Beyond a youthful behavior style – Age and sex differences in sensation seeking based on need theory

Previous studies examining sex and age-related differences in sensation seeking have mainly focused on specific patterns of behaviour that can be described as a youthful behaviour style. In contrast, the present study assessed age and sex differences in sensation seeking using the need inventory of sensation seeking (NISS). This instrument measures sensation seeking without items which are descriptive of concrete behaviours. Data were collected in Germany from 2339 subjects aged 14–79 years; constituting a representative population sample of Germany. The results indicate that sensation seeking scores decline over the course of age, even when no age-related behaviors are itemized in measuring the construct. Significant sex-related differences were also observed, although, contrary to age, they only accounted for a small part of the variance in sensation seeking.