Intrinsic Religiosity, Personality Traits, and Adolescent Risky Behaviors

Authors

Silvia Mendolia, University of WollongongFollow
Alfredo R. Paloyo, University of WollongongFollow
Ian Walker, Lancaster University

RIS ID

136615

Publication Details

Mendolia, S., Paloyo, A. & Walker, I. (2019). Intrinsic Religiosity, Personality Traits, and Adolescent Risky Behaviors. BE Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy, 19 (3), 20180311-1-20180311-16.

Abstract

We investigate the relationship between self-reported importance of religion and risky behaviors in adolescence using data from a large and detailed longitudinal study of English teenagers. We use school and individual fixed effects, and treatment effects with inverse-probability-weighted regression adjustment, controlling for a rich set of characteristics, including individual personality traits. Our results show that individuals with low religiosity are more likely to engage in risky health behaviors.