Prevalence estimates and adolescent risk behavior: Cross-cultural
differences in social influence
Frederick X. Gibbons, Marie Helweg-Larsen, Meg Gerrard
(1995) Journal of Applied Psychology, 80, 107-121.
Prevalence estimates and prototype perceptions related to health
risk behaviors were assessed in comparable samples of Danish and American
adolescents (ages 13-15 years). Partly on the basis of observation and previous
research, the assumption was made that the American sample would report more
self-enhancement tendencies than would the Danish sample. Consistent with this
assumption, which was supported by the data, 2 hypotheses were tested: (a) the
Americans would overestimate the prevalence of the various risk behaviors
(among their peers) more so than would the Danes and (b) those estimates would
be more closely linked to their own risk behaviors for the American sample.
Results supported both hypotheses; motivational explanations were proposed for
both effects. In addition, perceptions of the prototypes associated with
particular risk behaviors were assessed and were found to predict smoking
behavior and willingness to engage in unprotected sexual intercourse for both
samples. Implications for the study of adolescent risk behavior are discussed.