TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Mendolia, Silvia
AU  - Walker, Ian
        TI  - The Effect of Non-Cognitive Traits on Health Behaviours in Adolescence
        PY  - 2013/Mar/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 7301
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/publications/dp7301
        AB  - 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.
        KW  - self-esteem
KW  - locus of control
KW  - personality
KW  - health behaviours
        ER  -