%0 Report
        %A Mendolia, Silvia
%A Walker, Ian
        %T The Effect of Non-Cognitive Traits on Health Behaviours in Adolescence
        %D 2013
        %8 2013 Mar
        %I Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        %C Bonn
        %7 IZA Discussion Paper
        %N 7301
        %U https://www.iza.org/publications/dp7301
        %X This paper investigates the relationship between personality traits in adolescence and health behaviours using a large and recent cohort study. In particular, we investigate the impact of locus of control, self-esteem and conscientiousness at age 15-16, on the incidence of health behaviours such as: alcohol consumption; cannabis and other drug use; unprotected and early sexual activity; and sports and physical activity. We use matching methods to control for a very rich set of adolescent and family characteristics and we find that personality traits do affect health behaviours. In particular, individuals with external locus of control, or with low self-esteem, or with low levels of conscientiousness are more likely to engage in health-risky behaviours.
        %K self-esteem
%K locus of control
%K personality
%K health behaviours