Risk-Taking and Social Outcomes in Homeschooled Youth

Authors

• Abby Bonniwell PA-C, University of LynchburgFollow

Specialty

Emergency Medicine

Advisor

Debra S. Munsell, DHSc, PA-C, DFAAPA

Abstract

This paper examines how homeschooling environments shape adolescent social development and engagement in risk-taking behaviors. Homeschooling is one of the fastest-growing educational settings in the United States, with millions of students now taught at home. Families often pursue this setting for reasons such as safety, flexibility, or religious and values-based education. This topic is significant because adolescence is a critical stage when peer influence is strong and young people often may experiment with risk-taking behaviors, including substance use, delinquency, and early sexual activity. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and education databases, with filters applied to studies of school-aged youth, social skills, and risk-taking behaviors published between 2007 and 2023. Findings were mixed; while some studies show reduced risk-taking among homeschooled adolescents, often associated with increased supervision and limited exposure to adverse peer environments, other research identifies challenges in resilience, conflict resolution, and adaptation to diverse social settings. Additionally, the reviewed studies varied substantially in methodology, operational definitions of “social skills” and “risk-taking,” and sample demographics, which complicates cross-study comparison and interpretation. These outcomes appear to vary based on parental involvement, curriculum structure, and access to extracurricular or community-based opportunities. Families who intentionally provide diverse social experiences often see stronger outcomes, while limited opportunities may hinder long-term social and decision-making skills. For clinicians, these findings are essential because homeschooled adolescents may not receive the same developmental monitoring as their peers in traditional school settings. Physician assistants and other providers can play a key role by asking intentional questions about peer involvement, offering anticipatory guidance, supporting coping and decision-making skills, and connecting families with resources that promote healthy growth. Homeschooling should not be viewed as uniformly protective or harmful; instead, it represents a broad spectrum of practices shaping adolescent development in various ways. Recognizing this variability allows clinicians to approach homeschooled youth with individualized, culturally sensitive care. Future studies should prioritize consistent definitions of homeschooling subtypes and examine how factors such as parental teaching style, socioeconomic context, and peer exposure contribute to observed developmental differences.

Recommended Citation

Bonniwell A. Risk-Taking and Social Outcomes in Homeschooled Youth. University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository. 2026; 8(1).