Psychology

Contraceptive use, sensation seeking, and adolescent egocentrism

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The relations between contraceptive use, sensation seeking, and adolescent egocentrism were examined among 145 high school juniors and seniors (all female) attending high school in the Atlanta area. Sex without contraception was found to be significantly related to scores on the Sensation Seeking Scale, including the total score and two out of the four subscales. Sex without contraception was also found to be related to egocentrism, in particular to subjects' estimates of the probability of becoming pregnant as a result of engaging in sex without contraception. No significant relationship was found between sensation seeking and egocentrism. © 1990 Plenum Publishing Corporation.

Publication Title

Journal of Youth and Adolescence

Publication Date

1990

Volume

19

Issue

2

First Page

171

Last Page

180

ISSN

0047-2891

DOI

10.1007/BF01538720

Keywords

adolescents, contraception behavior, risk-taking

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