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Protective Factors
Protective Factors
The following
information is reprinted with permission from Developmental Research and
Programs (now Channing Bete Company).
RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTOR
PREVENTION:
What Does It
Mean for Community Prevention Planning?
All across our country, adults concerned about the
healthy development of young people are searching for answers to the
behavior problems of alcohol and other drug abuse, delinquency,
violence, school dropout, and teen pregnancy. How do we step ahead of
the problems with solutions which are far-reaching and lasting?
Research has shown there are a number of risk factors
that increase the chances of adolescents developing health and behavior
problems. Equally important is the evidence that certain protective
factors can help shield youngsters from problems. If we can reduce risks
while increasing protection throughout the course of young people's
development, we can prevent these problems and promote healthy,
pro-social growth.
PROTECTIVE
FACTORS
Protective factors are conditions that buffer young
people from the negative consequences of exposure to risks by either
reducing the impact of the risk or changing the way a person responds to
the risk. Consequently, enhancing protective factors can reduce the
likelihood of problem behaviors arising.
Some youngsters who are exposed to multiple risk
factors do not become substance abusers, juvenile delinquents, school
dropouts, or teen parents. Balancing the risk factors are protective
factors--aspects of people's lives that counter or buffer risk. Research
has identified protective factors that fall into three basic categories:
individual characteristics, bonding, and healthy beliefs and clear
standards.
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Individual
characteristics
Research
has identified four individual characteristics as protective factors.
These are characteristics children are born with and are difficult to
change: gender, a resilient temperament, a positive social
orientation, and intelligence. Intelligence, however, does not protect
against substance abuse.
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Bonding
Positive
bonding makes up for many other disadvantages caused by other risk
factors or environmental characteristics. Children who are attached to
positive families, friends, school, and community, and who are
committed to achieving the goals valued by these groups are less
likely to develop problems in adolescence. Studies of successful
children who live in high risk neighborhoods or situations indicate
that strong bonds with a caregiver can keep children from getting into
trouble.
To build bonding, three conditions are necessary: opportunities,
skills, and recognition. Children must be provided with opportunities
to contribute to their community, family, peers, and school. The
challenge is to provide children with meaningful opportunities that
help them feel responsible and significant.
Children must be taught the skills necessary to effectively take
advantage of the opportunity they are provided. If they don't have the
necessary skills to be successful, they experience frustration and/or
failure. Children must also be recognized and acknowledged for their
efforts. This gives them the incentive to contribute and reinforces
their skillful performance.
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Healthy beliefs and
clear standards
The people to whom youth are bonded need to have clear, positive
standards for behavior. The content of these standards is what
protects young people. When parents, teachers, and communities set
clear standards for children's behavior, when they are widely and
consistently supported, and when the consequences for not following
the standards are consistent, young people are more likely to follow
the standards.
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This was reprinted with permission from
Channing Bete Company (CBC), South Deerfield, Massachusetts, developers
of Communities That Care©,
a community risk-focused prevention training system. All rights
reserved. No reproduction or transmission in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, for any
purpose without the express written permission of CBC Inc., is allowed.
Information on Communities That Care
training and Communities That Care Investing in Your Community's Youth:
An Introduction to the Communities That Care System is available from
Channing Bete Company, One Community Place, South Deerfield, MA 01373.
Phone (877) 896-8532, fax: (800) 499-6464; e-mail:
PrevSci@channing-bete.com; Web site:
www.preventionscience.com.
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