Exploring Negative Risk-Taking in Adolescents: Bridging Cultural Gaps with an Indian-Specific Scale



Author Information

Kirti Tyagi, OP Jindal Global University Sonipat, India

Abstract

The meaning of risk and negative risk-taking varies across cultures, as do the behaviours associated with these constructs. This underscores the need to understand risk from a cultural perspective and develop culturally specific assessment tools. While several measures exist to assess negative risk-taking, research in the Indian context remains limited. This study aimed to develop a culturally relevant domain-specific negative risk-taking scale using a mixed-method approach, conducting three separate studies. Study 1 (n = 254, aged 10–24 years) yielded a preliminary three-factor structure with 53 items. To finalize the factor structure in Study 2, 53 items were subjected to principal component analysis with varimax rotation (n = 727, aged 11–24 years). This resulted in a 44-item, six-factor structure (Antisocial, Academic/School, Health, Safety, Unethical, Harm Inflicting), accounting for 63.77% of the variance. In Study 3, confirmatory factor analysis (n = 327, aged 11–24 years) confirmed the six-factor model as an acceptable fit. Additionally, the findings of the multivariate revealed significant mean differences for various socio-demographic variables (e.g., gender, age group, type of schooling, and place of residence) on the total negative risk-taking score and its six domains. The findings demonstrate the scale’s internal consistency, construct validity, concurrent validity, and measurement invariance, making it a valuable tool for assessing negative risk-taking behaviours in Indian adolescents. This culturally specific scale contributes to the literature by addressing the gap in understanding adolescent risk-taking through an Indian lens, reflecting the unique social and cultural context.


Paper Information

Conference: ACP2025
Stream: General Psychology

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Posted by James Alexander Gordon