ABSTRACT

Traditionally, risk-taking behaviors in young adulthood have been analyzed from a psychopathological approach, thus only assessing their negative consequences. Nevertheless, it is key to study the potential benefits that risk-taking provides to young adults. The present study follows the evolutionary approach of life history theory, which suggests that risk-taking is part of an adaptive fast-life history strategy. The main objective was to analyze the moderation role of gender between life history strategy and risk-taking behaviors. Based on a sample of young adult Spaniards, Mini-K was applied to measure K-factor as an index for life history strategy, and the Risky Behavior Questionnaire to measure the participation in a series of risk-taking behaviors. Results show that gender moderated the effect of life history strategy on risk-taking behaviors. Specifically, males with a fast-life history strategy showed higher participation in risk-taking behaviors compared to males with slow-life history strategy. In females, there was no difference in risk-taking behaviors based on life history strategy. Results support the life history approach of risk-taking behaviors as a pattern of integrated behavior in a fast-life strategy in young adult males. These findings can be applied to improve intervention programs aimed at reducing risk-taking behaviors in young adult males.

摘要

传统上，青年时期的冒险行为是从精神病理学方法分析的，因此只评估其负面后果。然而，研究冒险为年轻人带来的潜在好处是关键。本研究遵循生命史理论的进化方法，这表明冒险是适应性快速生命史策略的一部分。主要目的是分析性别在生活史策略和冒险行为之间的调节作用。基于年轻的西班牙人样本，Mini-K 用于测量K-因素作为生活史策略的指标，以及风险行为问卷来衡量参与一系列冒险行为。结果表明，性别调节了生活史策略对冒险行为的影响。具体而言，与具有慢生活史策略的男性相比，具有快生活史策略的男性表现出更高的冒险行为参与度。在女性中，基于生活史策略的冒险行为没有差异。结果支持冒险行为的生活史方法作为年轻成年男性快速生活策略中的综合行为模式。这些发现可用于改进旨在减少年轻成年男性冒险行为的干预计划。