The Relationships Between Emerging Adults’ Expressed Desire to Marry and Frequency of Participation in Risk-Taking Behaviors

Keywords

risk-taking; emerging adulthood; marriage

Abstract

The impact that desire to marry has on risk-taking behaviors during emerging adulthood is examined in the current investigation using nationally representative data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Looking both at the simple relationships between desire to marry and risk-taking behaviors, as well as the possible predictive power desire to marry could have on binge drinking, marijuana use, and sexual behaviors, data revealed that attitudes toward marriage may be an important component of emerging adulthood and risk-taking research. Results indicate that desire to marry was predictive of several risk-taking behaviors for both men and women even after controlling for other known predictors of risk-taking. Implications for future research are discussed.

Original Publication Citation

Willoughby, B. J. & Dworkin, J. (2009). The relationships between emerging adults’ expressed desire to marry and frequency of participation in risk behaviors. Youth & Society, 40, 426-450.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2009-03-01

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/7875

Publisher

Youth and Society

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Associate Professor

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