An investigation into the effects of mood and autobiographical memory on risk appraisal in adolescents

Risk-taking behaviors and identity is two of the biggest concerns in adolescence and emerging adulthood. In the current study, risk-taking behaviors were focused in the frame of self-concept which is a crucial part of identity. The primary aim of the study was to investigate both direct relationship of the positive and negative self-concept via self-defining memories (SDM) on risk-taking behaviors and indirectly through risk appraisal while the mood after recalling these memories moderating these two relationships. Beside of the main aim, there were few research questions that the study investigated. The present study investigated predictive roles of sensation-seeking and impulsivity on risk-taking. Moreover, the differences between positive and negative SDMs in terms of phenomenological characteristics and the emotions were other research questions that were focused. The data was collected from 113 students whose age range was between 17 and 23 from different universities in Ankara, Turkey. The results showed that there is no relationship between SDM and risk-taking either directly or indirectly through risk appraisal. Moreover, the study did not find any relationship between mood and risk-taking. For research questions, the results showed that sensation-seeking is a better predictor than impulsivity. Furthermore, results showed that there are several differences between positive and negative SDM both in terms of phenomenological characteristics and emotions.