Table 4. Defining Risk and Protective Factors.
Risk Factors | Protective Factors | Typical Variable Selection | |
---|---|---|---|
Common | Child maltreatment Interparental conflict Parental psycopathology Harsh, inconsistent parenting | Positive parent-child relationship Effective parenting | |
Health | Poor dietary habits Limited regular exercise/physical activity Lack of primary health care | Nutritious eating habits Regular physical activity/exercise Regular medical and dental care | Smoking Eating with family |
Academic | Race/ethnicity Poverty Parent dropout Large families Single parent families | Parent/child relationship Other adult relationship | Race Poverty HH size Parental status Academic scores |
Illegal drug/alcohol use | Parental conflict Poor parent-child bonding Poor communication Poor family management practices Family substance abuse | Small family (<4) Low parental conflict Caring sibling relationships Parental attachment | Family size Parent/child relationships Communication Drug use Alcohol use Sibling relationships Parental conflict |
Externalizing behavior | Family stress Family substance abuse Family pathologies Inconsistent behavior expectations Inconsistent parenting Low monitoring Poor family management | Good parenting skills Good family management Supportive parent/child relationship Family advocacy | Monitoring Hang out Movies Parent/child relationship Adult activities? School act up? |
Internalizing behaviors | Family psychopathology Hostility Critical Parental depression Less emotional expression Disorganized Poverty | Parental education Employment Good health Lack of risk factors | Parent education Parent/child interactions Confiding Income Depression? |
Risky sexual behavior & teenage pregnancy | Family norms Poor parent/youth relationship Communication Poor parental monitoring Maternal education Degree of religious affiliation Family income Family instability Family conflict Family structure Academic performance Drug & alcohol use Sexual abuse Physical abuse | Intact family | Parent/youth relationship Communication Monitoring Income Family structure Academic performance Substance abuse Sexual activity |