Abstract
The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of primed parent disengagement on the risk-taking intentions of women and men. Using Qualtrics, college students (244 female, 73 male) wrote about an instance of parent engagement or disengagement. Participants then reported their risky attitudes, destructive intentions, and mental health diagnoses. A 3-Way ANCOVA [2 (Parent Prime: father or mother) x 2 (Engagement Prime: engaged or disengaged) x 2 (Sex: Male or Female)] demonstrated a significant main effect for the engagement prime on risk. Parent disengagement was associated with more risk-taking, F(1,244)=4.55, p =.03, and destructive behaviors F(1,244)=13.15, p <.01, than parent engagement. Furthermore, there was a significant interaction for participant sex and engagement prime F(1,244)=33.72, p =.03. For participants primed with disengagement, males scored higher than females on risk. Correlational analysis also showed a negative association between biographical father engagement and mental health diagnoses, r(308)=-.12, p.= .02. Participants who were less close to their fathers, were more likely to have been diagnosed with a mental illness. Results are discussed in relation to Fast Life History and Parental Investment Theory.