Optimistic Children Engage in More Constructive Risk-Taking Behaviors
| Title: | Optimistic Children Engage in More Constructive Risk-Taking Behaviors |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Lu, Monica S., Hennefield, Laura (ORCID |
| Source: | International Journal of Behavioral Development. Jan 2023 47(1):72-81. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 10 |
| Publication Date: | 2023 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (DHHS/NIH) Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (DHHS/NIH) |
| Contract Number: | T32MH100019 F32HD093273 R21HD095490 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Positive Attitudes, Risk, Child Behavior, Young Children, Childrens Attitudes, Physical Activities, Age Differences, Psychological Patterns, Risk Management |
| DOI: | 10.1177/01650254221132766 |
| ISSN: | 0165-0254 1464-0651 |
| Abstract: | Optimism is linked to persistence and resilience in adults; however, how optimism might relate to children's evaluations of potentially challenging situations and risk-taking behaviors is unknown. This study examined the role of optimism in 4- to 8-year-old children's (N = 121) perceptions of and willingness to engage in physical activities that ranged from low to high risk. Overall, children perceived activities with more risky elements as more dangerous and were less willing to try them, with this pattern strongest in older children. Moreover, children higher in optimism were (1) more willing to engage in moderate-risk activities relative to children lower in optimism, but (2) less willing to engage in the highest-risk activities--even though they perceived those highest-risk activities as less dangerous than children lower in optimism. These findings support the possibility that optimism motivates children to engage in beneficial moderately challenging activities and protects them from engaging in severe injury-inflicting activities. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2023 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1361007 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| ISSN: | 0165-0254 1464-0651 |
|---|---|
| DOI: | 10.1177/01650254221132766 |
| Published in: | International Journal of Behavioral Development |
| Language: | English |