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Peer-Influence on Risk-Taking in Male Adolescents with Mild to Borderline Intellectual Disabilities and/or Behavior

Anika Bexkens1,2,3, Hilde M Huizenga4,5,6, David A Neville7

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands. a.bexkens@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.

Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
|June 28, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Adolescents with Mild-to-Borderline Intellectual Disability (MBID) take more risks when influenced by peers. Interventions targeting peer influence may reduce risky behavior in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Adolescent risk-taking is influenced by cognitive and behavioral factors.
  • Understanding the interplay of intellectual functioning and behavioral disorders on risk-taking is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the distinct and combined effects of Mild-to-Borderline Intellectual Disability (MBID) and Behavior Disorders (BD) on risk-taking.
  • To examine how peer influence modulates risk-taking behaviors in adolescents with MBID and/or BD.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 319 adolescents was divided into four groups: MBID-only, MBID+BD, BD-only, and typically developing controls.
  • The Balloon Analogue Risk-Task (BART) was administered in solo and peer conditions to assess risk-taking propensity.
  • Model-based decomposition analyzed underlying processes contributing to BART performance.

Main Results:

  • Risk-taking increased in peer conditions compared to solo conditions across most groups, except BD-only.
  • Adolescents with MBID exhibited heightened risk-taking, specifically under peer influence.
  • Behavior Disorders (BD) did not show significant main or interaction effects on risk-taking.

Conclusions:

  • Mild-to-Borderline Intellectual Disability (MBID), not comorbid BD, is a key factor in increased adolescent risk-taking, particularly under peer influence.
  • The elevated risk-taking in MBID appears linked to increased propensity, safety misjudgments, and overconfidence in those judgments.
  • Interventions focused on mitigating peer influence are recommended for reducing risk-taking in adolescents with MBID.
Keywords:
Adolescent risk-takingAttention deficit hyperactivity disorderBalloon analogue risk-taskDisruptive behavior disorderIntellectual disabilityPeer influence

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