Year
2019
Season
Spring
Paper Type
Master's Thesis
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Psychology
NACO controlled Corporate Body
University of North Florida. Department of Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Jennifer Wolff
Second Advisor
Dr. Jody Nicholson-Bell
Department Chair
Dr. Lori Lange
College Dean
Dr. George Rainbolt
Abstract
Adolescence and young adulthood are the periods of development associated with the highest amount of risk-taking. One theory, the Dual-Systems model, suggests that this could be due to an imbalance in the maturation of two brain systems: reward appraisal, which matures first, and cognitive control, which matures later. This imbalance may be the cause of adolescents’ tendency to favor immediate rewards, disregarding consequences. Depressed adolescents, however, behave differently. While it is not exactly clear whether they take more risks or fewer risks, depressed adolescents display different interactions and decision making with their peers than non-depressed adolescents. This study attempted to use these patterns of behavior already identified in previous research to predict where an adolescent would fall on a depression continuum based on their Self-Focused and Other-Focused risk behaviors. Results did not find a link between depression and either type of risk. Results may be inconclusive due to issues within the data and data collection process.
Suggested Citation
Kawczynski, Nathan, "Risk domains and adolescent depression" (2019). UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 873.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/873
Included in
Developmental Psychology Commons, Mental Disorders Commons, Other Psychiatry and Psychology Commons, Psychological Phenomena and Processes Commons