Executive functioning and risk-taking behaviors: patterns, relationships, and impact on life satisfaction in emerging adults

In this present thesis, it is aimed to investigate the relationship between executive functions (EF) and risk-taking behaviours in emerging adulthood. Regarding to this, the developments of risk taking behaviours, the role of executive functions processes and possible impact of the life satisfactions are investigated. Potential changes in executive functions may still continue to develop in emerging adulthood. Also, emerging adulthood might be a crucial time for not only negative risk-taking taking behaviours (smoking, substance use, reckless driving, violent crime, and unprotected sex, etc.) but also positive risk-taking behaviours (trying new activities, initiating a new friendship, etc.). Despite the popularity of adolescence and pre-adolescent workgroups, studies on EF and its relationship to risk-taking behaviours have remained limited at the age of emerging adulthood. Therefore, this study is conducted with emerging adulthood in the age range of 18-29 Contrary to traditionally defined categories of risk, the risk-taking could be both in negative sense and positive sense. The researchers have shown that there is a significant negative relationship between negative risk-taking behaviours and the EF skills (Moran et al., 2020; Ogilvie et al., 2020). Therefore, it is expected a significant positive relationship between EFs skills and positive risk-taking behaviours while it is expected a significant negative relationship between EFs skills and negative risk-taking behaviours. For this purpose, 140 participants from international students and Italian students at the University of Padova have completed the first Anamnestic Information Sheet. Then Negative Risk- Taking Scales (Gullone et al., 2000) and Positive Risk-Taking Scale (Duell & Steinberg, 2020) to measure their risky decisions and Executive Functioning Index (Spinella, 2005). to measure their EFs ability. Finally, the Satisfaction With Life Scale (Pavot & Diener, 1993) to measure their well-being. The 2 main research questions are: 1. Is there a possible relationship between total score of EFs & sub dimensions of EFs scores and risk-taking behaviours score? 2. Do the main components which are negative risk-taking behaviours, positive risk-taking behaviours, total score of EFs and sub dimensions of EFs which are empathy, strategic planning, organization, impulse control and motivational driving have a possible impact on life satisfaction? This thesis will begin with a detailed explanation of the main factors which are executive functions, risk-taking behaviours and life satisfaction. This will be followed by a description of the sample studied, research questions with the measures chosen for the results of our analysis. Finally, the analysis results will be compared with the research questions. In this way, there will be discussion and conclusion sections that will be brought to light. The limitations of the study and possible future research will be discussed at the end.