Chances are you’ve heard the term “protective factors” in one context or another, but how does it apply to raising children and teen use of alcohol and other drugs? At its most basic, a protective factor is something that helps to prevent problems. Conversely, a risk factor is something that helps to create problems. Knowing what some of the typical protective and risk factors are for teens that prevent or contribute to alcohol and other drug use can be a powerful parenting tool.

 

By helping your child increase the number of protective factors in their lives and by seeking to minimize risk factors, you can help ensure that your child makes healthy choices around alcohol and other drug use. While no parent can eliminate all risk factors, trying to have the number of protective factors in your child’s life exceed the number of risk factors is a more achievable goal. 

protective factor

a clearly defined behavior or constitutional (e.g., genetic), psychological, environmental, or other characteristic that is associated with a decreased probability that a particular disease or disorder will develop in an individual, that reduces the severity of an existing pathological condition, or that mitigates the effects of stress generally. For example, exercising regularly can serve as a protective factor by decreasing the likelihood or severity of coronary heart disease, hypertension, and depression. Likewise, supportive social networks and positive coping skills are examples of protective factors that reduce the effects of stressful life events and enhance mental health. Compare risk factor.

American Psychological Association Dictionary of Psychology

https://dictionary.apa.org/protective-factor

 

Protective factors exist at the individual, family, school, and community levels and combine together to help build resilience. Research has shown that resilience is an important factor in the decision to use alcohol or other drugs or to engage in other risky behaviors. The National Research Council and Institute of Medicine prepared an overview table of the risk and protective factors in those categories thought to influence substance abuse at various ages.

Protective factors can be behaviors or characteristics unique to an individual, but can also be family, community or environmentally based. Notwithstanding the broad spectrum of influences, parents have a greater impact in this area than they might think. Many of the protective factors typically associated with teen alcohol and other drug use can be influenced or encouraged by parents.

 

Peer Relationships

It makes sense that teens who spend time with peers who use alcohol or other drugs are more likely to use them themselves. It is also expected that a teen who has friends who do not use, or who disapprove of use will themselves have a lower incidence of use. Knowing who your teen is spending time with and helping them learn how to make healthy friend choices is an important role for parents to play.

 

Parental Rules and Conversations

What may be less obvious than the impact of the habits and beliefs of peers is that it has been shown that teens who understand their parents expectations around alcohol and other drug use are less likely to use. Having conversations about family values and the risk of use is a protective factor, as is a teen’s knowing that their parents care about them and the choices that they make. 

 

Family and Community Engagement

Teens who feel connected to their families and their communities are less likely to use alcohol and other drugs. Protective connections can come in many forms – family meals or activities, faith-based involvement, and volunteering for local organizations to name a few. Parents who ensure strong family connections and who encourage their teens to find other meaningful community connections strengthen this protective factor for their kids.

 

School Involvement

Involvement in school – academically, athletically, through clubs and organizations – is thought to be a protective factor in choices around alcohol and other drug use. Conversely, the expectations surrounding some of those involvements and the stress that accompanies can be a risk factor for many teens. By keeping an eye out for those stressors and helping teens develop healthy coping strategies, parents can help mitigate the risk.

Protective Factors in the Town of New Castle

A group of New Castle United for Youth 2019 summer interns spent some time learning and thinking about protective and risk factors for teens growing up in the Town of New Castle. 

Here is what how they summed up the power of protective factors:

Protective Factors create an environment that helps keep safe and support people within a community. Protective factors reduce the likelihood of negative outcomes such as stress, drug abuse and poor relationships while promoting positive health.

The power of protective factors induces self esteem, positive mindset, clear values and engaging connections with others. These are some of the many important reasons that help keep an individual protected and safe from risks.

The youth interns worked hard over the summer brainstorming risk factors within our community, as well as protective factors that will help reduce these risks. NCUFY interns came up with the following protective factors…

 

  • Academic success – encourages students to do well and stay away from negative things            
  • Sports        
  • Clubs          
  • In general, people want to do well for college  
  • Health curriculum – educates students very well and makes them aware            
  • School resources: Anything that provides mental wellness (Psychologists in schools)
  • Peer pressure

 

And the following risk factors in our community:

  • Not many events/activities (especially on weekends throughout the school year)
  • Easy access to drugs/other substances
  • Cameras in school/locking doors
  • General culture of stress and anxiety (school/friends/etc.)
  • Very cliquey 
  • Peer pressure

 

Our NCUFY youth members will continue to explore the concept of protective factors in our community and how we can help teens leverage them to boost capacity to make healthy choices in their lives now and going forward.