Introduction
Much time has been put into researching the various root causes of crime. Delinquent behaviour is the result of much individual, community and environmental factors all colliding together at once (Institute for the Prevention of Crime). To help break down and further understand what causes an individual to act out, countless research and studies have been done to determine “risk factors”: factors in an individual’s life that may increase the likelihood of that individual engaging in delinquent behaviour (Public Safety Canada). On the other end of the spectrum, “protective factors” are things in an individual’s life that may make him or her less likely to be involved in delinquent behaviour. The presence of risk factors does not mean that one will become involved in delinquent activities, just as the presence of protective factors does not make one immune to delinquent conduct. However, generally speaking, the more prevalent the risk factors or the more absent the protective factors, the greater the overall risk.
No one person is completely risk-free – there will always be certain risk factors that exist as a result of our daily lives, communities or cultures. However, one can mitigate the presence of risk factors by strengthening or creating protective factors. It is also important to remember that it only takes a few changes in circumstances to shift a youth’s life from low risk to high risk (a parent becoming unemployed, moving to a new community, a divorce, etc.).
Risk factors
Generally, risk factors can be grouped into four main categories:
Individual factors: personal characteristics (hyperactivity, impulsiveness, aggression), being a victim of abuse, mental health problems, the early use of drugs or alcohol, poor academic achievement, struggles in school, etc.
Relationship factors: lack of parental interaction and involvement, a failure of parents to set clear expectations, lack of supervision, inconsistent discipline procedures, lack of good role models, child abuse or neglect, family conflict, delinquent behaviour by siblings or peers, parent/friend/family member involved in crime, peer pressure, etc.
Community factors: the availability of drugs and weapons, gang activity, high crime rates, high levels of unemployment, poor housing, few social services for youth, lack of recreational activities, community disorganization, lack of social networks, high population density, lack of community cohesiveness, etc.
Societal factors: poverty, socio-economic status, barriers to employment such as poor transportation systems, a general disregard and distrust of youth (alienation of youth), discrimination or gender inequality, poor health care, poor social policies, etc.
Sources: Public Safety Canada, Institute for the Prevention of Crime, World Report on Violence and Health – World Health Organization, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, RCMP Drugs and Organized Crime Awareness Service and Alberta Health Services.
Protective factors
By building and strengthening protective factors in a youth’s life, you are taking steps to address problems that may lead to delinquent behaviour.
Individual protective factors: optimism, dedication to education, ability to show empathy, problem-solving skills, conflict resolution, critical thinking skills and the ability to seek out sources of support.
Family/relationship protective factors: offering support and affection, communication, the existence of a non-family support network, structure within the home and reasonable disciplinary actions when rules are broken.
Community protective factors: strong community infrastructure, community opportunities for youth to participate in activities where they have choices, decision-making power and shared responsibilities and activities that help youth develop new skills and offer them the chance to make a difference.
Societal protective factors: national, state and local policies that support child and youth programs, meaningful adult-youth interaction, access to recreation, and programs that help adults build a base of understanding and commitment to working with and engaging youth.
Conclusion
By recognizing both the risk factors and protective factors that may be present in the lives of youth, you can take an active role in helping youth reduce risk and develop resiliency, For example, if a youth has low self esteem, encouraging him or her to join a sports team or participate in an activity that interests him or her can really help build confidence, mitigating the effects low self-esteem can have on development and behaviour.
Links
Public Safety Canada
Institute for the Prevention of Crime
World Report on Violence and Health – World Health Organization
National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center
RCMP Drugs and Organized Crime Awareness Service and Alberta Health Services