The goal of this project was to substantiate a more positive conceptualization of adolescent risk behavior and to compare adolescent viewpoints of risk behavior to the items on the Prosocial and Health Adolescent Risk Behavior Scale (PHARBS). A total of 57 high school students participated in the research. Researchers recruited students from an Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology course at a large Midwestern high school. The high school serves approximately 1,750 students in grades 9 through 12. The university Institutional Review Board approved the study procedures. Families provided informed consent, and students assented to participating in one of eight focus group discussions. The focus groups were audio taped, transcribed, and coded. Researchers analyzed the coded data using word count analysis. Students discussed prosocial risk behaviors in addition to health risk behaviors, providing support for the PHARBS and suggesting that adolescents view taking some risks as positive. A more positive conceptualization of risk behavior may better align with how adolescents view risk behavior. Researchers and clinicians might approach adolescent risk behavior measurement and research on the importance of understanding risk behaviors as a normal and potentially positive aspect of adolescent development.

该项目的目标是证实对青少年风险行为的更积极的概念化，并将青少年对风险行为的观点与亲社会和健康青少年风险行为量表 (PHARBS) 上的项目进行比较。共有57名高中生参与了这项研究。研究人员从中西部一所大型高中的大学预修 (AP) 心理学课程中招募学生。高中为大约 1,750 名 9 至 12 年级的学生提供服务。大学机构审查委员会批准了学习程序。家庭提供了知情同意，学生同意参加八个焦点小组讨论之一。焦点小组被录音、转录和编码。研究人员使用字数分析来分析编码数据。除了健康风险行为之外，学生们还讨论了亲社会风​​险行为，为 PHARBS 提供了支持，并建议青少年将承担一些风险视为积极的。对风险行为的更积极的概念化可能更符合青少年对风险行为的看法。研究人员和临床医生可能会进行青少年风险行为测量，并研究将风险行为理解为青少年发展的正常和潜在积极方面的重要性。