The relationship between early risk-taking behavior and mental health problems among a nationally representative sample of australian youth

Abstract

Background: Earlier engagement in risk-taking behaviours has been associated with more severe mental health problems across development. However, sex differences in risk-outcome relationships remain underexplored and mental health outcomes spanning both ends of the internalising and externalising spectra are rarely considered within the same sample. The present study examined associations between age at initiation of alcohol use, illicit drug use, and sexual intercourse, and symptoms of internalizing, externalizing, depression and self-harm, for males and females. Methods: The present study analyzed self-report survey data from a nationally representative sample of Australian adolescents (N=..