Risky road behavior of adolescent motorcyclists

Abstract

Adolescent motorcyclists are involved over-proportionately in road accidents. The main cause of this can be seen in youth specific risk-taking behavior, which can again be viewed as a possible result of an unproductive strain-coping-process that can be based on a gender specific stress-theoretical socialization model. A study of 137 male adolescent motorcyclists confirmed psychosocial stress potentials next to general risk seeking as influential factors on dimensions of risky road behavior. Risky road behavior was looked at within the frame of other risky behavior and discussed as a stress compensating and gender identity reproducing function in the development of adolescents. © 2001 A B Academic Publishers.