Future negative time perspective and risk-taking behaviors among chinese adolescents: A longitudinal moderated mediation model

The association between future time perspective and risk-taking behaviors has received extensive empirical attention. However, the underlying mechanisms that link future negative time perspective (FNTP) to risk-taking behaviors are complex and not well-understood. To address this gap, we adopted a longitudinal design that examined the association between FNTP and risk-taking behaviors, and the roles of coping styles and self-control in this association among 581 Chinese adolescents (age range = 12–18 years, 46.3% females). Results showed that FNTP at wave 1 was associated with risk-taking behavior at wave 3 via positive and negative coping styles at wave 2. Furthermore, adolescents with low self-control and more negative coping strategies preferred to engage in risk-taking behaviors as compared to their high self-control counterparts. Taken together, these research findings underscore the importance of considering the influence of the FNTP on adolescents’ risk-taking behaviors and provide implications for developing preventions and interventions for reducing adolescents’ risk-taking behaviors.