Evaluating the role of "nothing to lose" attitudes on risky behavior in adolescence

This article examines the extent to which adolescents' expectations about their future in terms of health and education affect their risk-taking behavior. With data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we test the theory that a "nothing to lose" attitude about the future predicts greater involvement in risky behaviors involving early sexual intercourse, selling drugs, and weapon use. We examine the effects of both individual- and school-level conditions. Results provide mixed support for our "nothing to lose" hypothesis. We do find noteworthy school-level effects of "school climate," including aggregate expectations, mental health, and the prevalence of single-mother families, that influence adolescent risk-taking behavior more than school measures of SES.