Associations between risk behaviour and social status in European adolescents

Both theory and empirical evidence suggest that adolescents engage in risk
behaviour to gain mature status, thereby becoming popular among their peers.
Using a cross-sectional design with 20 school classes from higher secondary
schools in Austria and the Netherlands, associations between risk behaviour and
social status in late adolescence were examined (N ¼ 408, Mage ¼ 16.95,
SD ¼ 0.81, 50% male). Popularity and likeability were assessed as distinct facets
of social status in adolescence using peer nominations. Self-reported risk behaviour
included alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use, as well as sexual intercourse. Using a
latent variable approach, results showed that in accordance with our assumptions,
risk behaviour was strongly associated with popularity, but not with likeability.
This study shows that in Austria and the Netherlands, associations between risk
behaviour and social status among peers are in line with findings from outside of
Europe. Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed and
proposals for future research are given.