Protecting Adolescents From Harm

Abstract

Family and school contexts as well as individual characteristics are associated with health and risky behaviors in adolescents. The results should assist health and social service providers, educators, and others in taking the first steps to diminish risk factors and enhance protective factors for our young people.

Addiction, Behavioral Change and Social Identity

“…Elements that determine the quality of such relationships (e.g., having a sense of connectedness, good communication, support, involvement, and belonging within the group) can help protect against risky health behaviours and mental health problems. The family is one of the most important groups from this perspective, with adolescents who report high levels of family connectedness reporting lower levels of cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use (Resnick et al, 1997). Smoking (Wang, Fitzhugh, Westerfield, & Eddy, 1995) and alcohol use (Bonnie & O'Connell, 2004) can be discouraged through healthy family norms and attitudes, as well as through healthy behaviour modeling.…”

“…They were also more likely to delay sexual initiation, and tended to Running head: GROUP IDENTIFICATION AND ADDICTIVE HEALTH BEHAVIOURS IN ADOLESCENTS 8 report lower levels of cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use (Resnick et al, 1997).…”

“…As with the family, healthy peer norms and values can protect against substance misuse (Donovan, 2004), and strong peer connections can reduce the risk of adolescents engaging in a wide range of risky health behaviours (Anteghini, Fonseca, Ireland, & Blum, 2001;Resnick et al, 1997). However, as mentioned previously, adolescents' heightened sensitivity to peers can actually encourage their experimentation with addictive and risky behaviours, such as substance misuse (Patton et al, 2004;Trucco, Colder & Wieczorek, 2011), smoking, and alcohol initiation and persistence (Beal, Ausiello, & Perrin, 2001;Donovan, 2004;Kaplan, Nápoles-Springer, Stewart, & Pérez-Stable, 2001;Salazer, Santelli, Crosby, & DiClemente, 2009).…”

Examining school context and its influence on teachers

“…For example, Shann (1999) found that a positive school climate results in positive relationships among teachers and students and positive student attitude towards school. In addition, research has shown that if students feel accepted and included in their schools, they develop positive attitudes and emotions towards school and learning (Osterman, 2000;Resnick et al, 1997). Boxes 4 and 5 show index scales that are used to represent these attitudes.…”

A Historical Analysis of Public School Sex Education in America Since 1900

“…potentially overlapped as risk behaviors among students (Resnick, 1997) An additional research finding related to the social, physical, and economic benefits of "abstinence until marriage, " moved the expectation for sexual restraint away from a moral viewpoint.…”