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Risk-taking in preschool children

C M Kennedy1, L P Lipsitt

  • 1Department of Family Health Care Nursing, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0606, USA.

Journal of Pediatric Nursing
|May 15, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Preschoolers engaging in risk-taking behaviors are often boys with higher injury rates and congruent parental views. This behavior isn't always impulsive, suggesting some caution in daring children.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Understanding risk-taking behaviors in preschool-age children is crucial for developmental and safety assessments.
  • Previous research has not fully characterized the multidimensional nature of childhood risk-taking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize preschool-age children exhibiting daring, risk-taking behaviors.
  • To explore the relationship between risk-taking, impulsivity, cognitive ability, and parental perceptions.

Main Methods:

  • Study involved 74 preschool-age children (39 males, 35 females) and their mothers from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
  • Data collection included self-reported risk-taking, accident/injury rates, parental assessments, and cognitive ability measures.
  • The Injury Behavior Checklist was considered a valuable screening tool.

Main Results:

  • High risk-taking children were predominantly male, had higher accident rates, and showed congruence between child and parent risk-taking assessments.
  • Contrary to hypotheses, risk-taking children were not found to be excessively impulsive, suggesting contemplative engagement.
  • Cognitive ability was a codependent predictor of risk-taking in boys.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood risk-taking is a multidimensional phenomenon, not a singular trait.
  • Risk-taking behavior in some children can be contemplative rather than purely impulsive.
  • The Injury Behavior Checklist can aid in screening specific populations for risk-taking behaviors.

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