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Stronger Working Memory Reduces Sexual Risk Taking in Adolescents, Even After Controlling for Parental Influences
Author(s) -
Khurana Atika,
Romer Daniel,
Betancourt Laura M.,
Brodsky Nancy L.,
Giannetta Joan M.,
Hurt Hallam
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/cdev.12383
Subject(s) - psychology , developmental psychology
This study examined the prospective influence of adolescent working memory ( WM ) on changes in impulsivity and sexual risk taking and assessed whether this relation could be explained by confounding effects of parental influences. Data from 360 community adolescents ( M age = 13.5 ± 0.95 years; 52% female; 56% non‐Hispanic White; low‐mid socioeconomic status ( SES ); recruited from Philadelphia area in 2004–2005) were analyzed using structural equation modeling to predict changes in impulsivity and sexual risk taking over a 2‐year follow‐up, using baseline assessments of WM , parental monitoring, parental involvement, and SES . Stronger WM predicted reduced involvement in sexual risk taking at follow‐up, effects channeled through changes in impulsivity dimensions of “acting without thinking” and “inability to delay gratification.” Parental variables had a protective influence on adolescent impulsivity and risk involvement, but the effects of WM operated independently of parental influences.