This paper estimates the impact of adolescent attitudes and behaviors - academic motivation as assessed by the child herself and behavioral problems as assessed by the mother or the teacher of the child at age 16 - on adult attitudes and behaviors including illegal drugs consumption, smoking, physical and mental health, criminal activity, political participation, self-confidence and opinions about the labor market at age 41. Adolescent attitudes and behaviors are latent variables estimated using a semiparametric item response theory method. Conditional on educational attainment and personal characteristics, I find that individuals with higher academic motivation and lower behavioral problems at age 16 have lower probabilities of having ÔproblematicÕ attitudes and behaviors at age 41. The results are very similar across gender. I also examine the role of family environment in shaping these adolescent attitudes and behaviors. Academic motivation and behavioral problems have a stronger association with parental interest in the education of their children than with measures of the financial situation of the family.
