The Association Between Risk and Protective Factors and Caribbean Adolescents' Risk-Taking Behaviours

Abstract

Adolescent risk-taking is of particular concern in the Caribbean, as individual and social problems are on the rise. To develop effective prevention and intervention programmes for these youth, it is imperative to understand the relationship between the factors which influence this behaviour. This study had five main purposes: the first three investigated the association between risk-taking and individual risk factors, social risk factors, and family protective factors respectively. The final two investigated whether family-related protective factors can buffer these associations. A 2-year longitudinal study was conducted in Sint Maarten. There were 378 adolescents who participated in Wave 1 and Wave 2, ranging from 11-19 years. Participants completed scales measuring; depression; behavioural disinhibition; peer attitudes; peer pressure; parental monitoring; parental support; and engagement in risk-taking. Results indicated both individual risk factors (depression and disinhibition) were significantly associated with risk-taking, however, both social risk factors (deviant peer attitudes and peer pressure) were not significantly associated with risk-taking. Additionally, the protective factor parental monitoring, significantly buffered the association between depression and risk-taking. These findings indicate that while individual risk factors are associated with adolescents’ increased risk-taking, family-based interventions which increase parental monitoring may be effective in reducing this risk-taking.