Problem: Prevention Planning Teams are challenged with developing intervention programs designed to decrease youth risk behaviors. Literature indicates that by increasing the number of assets/protective factors within a child's external ecology it decreases the likelihood of the youth participating in risk behaviors. Information which explicitly focuses on the etiology (external ecology) of youth risk behaviors for Southwest Virginia Region (SWVAR) 6th grade youth had not been performed; therefore, this study investigated the reported external ecology present in the SWVAR 6th grade youth, whether there are differences in the reported external ecology by gender, and whether there are differences in the reported external ecology by race/ethnicity. Methods: The SWVAR 2009-2010 6th grade Youth Risk Behavior Surveys were analyzed and items extracted which pertained to the Search Institute Developmental Assets Framework. Twelve survey items were identified which fit into the External Asset Building Block areas of Support, Empowerment, and Boundaries and Expectations. Responses to these items by SWVAR 6th grade youth who participated in the 2009-2010 YRBS (n=2051) were analyzed via descriptive statistics for overall responses and Chi-Square in relation to gender and race/ethnicity. Results: Descriptive statistics and Chi-Square analysis indicated an overall positive external ecology. There were however statistically significant differences by gender and race/ethnicity in each of the represented External Asset Building Blocks. Conclusions: SWVAR 6th grade youth who participated in the 2009-2010 YRBS indicated an overall positive external ecology by overall responses, gender and race/ethnicity. There are however segments by gender and race/ethnicity which indicate a need for intervention and/or further investigation. / Ph. D.

The purpose of the study was to identify the internal and external protective factors found in family, school and community as perceived by rural elementary students who experienced poverty and demonstrated academic resilience in a Virginia school division. By identifying the common protective factors among the academically resilient elementary students, school leaders and educators can implement practices that foster a learning climate that cultivates and supports resilience in students who are at risk of academic failure. A qualitative approach was used to analyze a purposefully selected group of academically resilient elementary school students living in rural poverty. The research questions were: 1. For students purposefully selected as meeting the criteria for academic resilience, what are their self-identified protective factors regarding academic achievement? 2. What are the similarities and differences in protective factors among these purposefully selected students? Ten fifth grade elementary students, a boy and girl from each of the elementary schools in the rural school division meeting the definition of academic resilience and living in poverty were eligible to participate in the study. Phenomenological interviews were conducted with twenty-one questions related to family, community and school environments. The results of the study indicated that the support of extended family, specifically grandparents of the participants was perceived to have had the greatest impact on the academic success of the academically resilient students living in rural poverty. Other protective factors revealed were lack of mobility in the rural community, peer influences and relationships with school staff. The academically resilient elementary school participants, in the study, all possessed close relationships with their family to include extended family members and had at least one desired content area taught in school. / Ed. D.

Social workers are on a daily basis faced with difficult decisions in assessing risk of harm to children. The process requires appropriate competencies, and relevant and validated methods to ensure legal compliance. Risk assessments, knowledge of risk and protective factors, and the interplay between these factors, have been the focus in the development of procedures within social child and youth care since the implementation of Barns Behov i Centrum (BBIC) in 2006. Ahead of the revision of BBIC 2015, the evidence base was strengthened further, and the risk- need- and responsivity principles were introduced to support analysis and assessment processes.Taking a bio-ecological perspective, the purpose of this study has been to examine types of risk and protective factors identified in investigations of girls and boys aged 13-17 years, and how these are weighed in the social secretary's analysis and assessment of the child's needs according to the risk- need- and responsivity principles.The study is based on a thematic analysis of 30 decision-making documents according to BBIC, and the findings of the analysis are further illustrated with descriptive statistics.The findings highlight that analyses and assessments lack a holistic perspective of the development of children vis-à-vis parental abilities and other factors in the family and environment, and that a predominant proportion of identified risk- and protective factors are attributed to the youth in question. The findings also show that the risk- need- and responsivity principles are not drawn upon in analyses and assessments as intended.Conclusions: • Investigations of the youths’ needs have been conducted with a narrow focus on the child's development in the BBIC triangle, which means that the assessment ofneeds is constructed on the basis that the youths’ primarily are responsible for their own situation. • In the absence of a thorough implementation of the revised BBIC, a separate praxis with regard to the principles of risk- needs- and responsivity seems to have emerged, which in turn may hinder legal compliance in the assessment of childrens’ needs.

The purpose of this study is to investigate adult women's experiences of sexual abuse by a close adult relative in their childhood. We have chosen to study two autobiographies written by women who themselves grew up in an environment where they were subjected to sexual abuse. The objective has been to analyze how these adult women remember their experience of circumstances perceived as positive and negative in their surrounding environment as children. Our empirical data will be analyzed using theories of risk and protective factors. The risk factors that will be analyzed include individual, family-based and community-level factors. The protective factors include individual characteristics, family patterns, close relationships and the significance of the community. The results show that the most prominent risk factors in the narratives are family-based, acting out behavior at school, self-blame and fear. The protective factors we could identify were significant relatives, awareness and empowering thoughts as well as school and friends. Overall the results indicate that the protective factors identified in the adult women´s narrative from their childhood have had a significant impact on the outcome of the risk factors to which the women were exposed to as children.

This study investigated factors promoting academic resiliency within Latino students at an urban high school in the Los Angeles area. The criteria of “on-track” to graduate served as the operational definition of academic resilience. A total of 92 students completed the survey. Of these, 57 were on-track to graduate and 35 students were “not on-track” to graduate. The California Healthy Kids Survey: Resiliency & Youth Development Module (WestEd, 2008a) was the instrument employed to obtain quantitative data using three external protective factors (caring relationships, high expectations, and meaningful participation) and three internal protective factors (social competence, autonomy and sense of self, and sense of meaning and purpose). An additional demographic section was also included. A t-test for independent samples indicated a significant mean difference between Latino students on-track to graduate and not on-track to graduate for two of the protective factors: participants on-track to graduate reported a stronger sense of meaning and purpose and higher expectations than did Latino students not on-track to graduate. A Pearson Correlation matrix showed that each of the three primary relationship pairings was significantly correlated. A chi-square test determined that gender and on-track to graduate were found to be independent of each other, as were various Latino origins and academic resiliency. The findings revealed no significant difference between academic resiliency and household composition, languages spoken, or maternal/paternal educational level. Furthermore, Latino participants born in another country were more likely to graduate than Latino students born in the United States.

Substance use is a growing concern among adolescents because it is a threat to their well-being and associated with negative outcomes in later life (NIH, 2014). Adolescence is a developmentally important time where independence grows, risks are taken, and some begin to experiment with substances (Burrow-Sanchez, 2006). Further, there is a high association between substance use and risk-taking behaviors, which can lead to involvement in the juvenile justice system. The rates of substance use are more alarming for juvenile delinquents (78%) (National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, 2004). Along with risk factors associated with early onset substance use, researchers have identified several protective factors including involvement in positive relationships with parents. In this dissertation, I studied gender-specific relationships between parent and child that were associated with lower rates of substance use among at-risk adolescents. I investigated if this relationship mitigated the effects of negative peer association on substance use among adolescents. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to complete analysis using secondary data. The sample consisted of 166 adolescents who were involved in the juvenile justice system. Results showed that higher relationship quality with mothers was found to be statistically significant in predicting lower substance use. Overall, gender was not found to predict substance use, nor did it moderate the relationship between negative peer association and substance use. Results from this study can inform prevention and intervention efforts by heightening awareness regarding the protective nature of relationships with parents, specifically with mothers for at-risk adolescents. Further research is needed to explore these gender differences more in-depth. It will be important to continue to explore gender-specific relationships and the various aspects of parenting that can lower the risk for substance use among at-risk adolescents. / Ph. D. / Gender-specific parent-child relationships were studied in this dissertation to explore protective relationships that are associated with lower rates of substance use among at-risk adolescents. This study included an investigation on relationships that mitigate the influence of negative peer association on substance use among adolescents. The sample included 166 adolescents who were involved in the juvenile justice system. Results showed that higher relationship quality with mothers predicted lower substance use for teens. These results can inform prevention and intervention efforts by improving awareness regarding relationships with parents that appear to be protective, specifically with mothers and at-risk adolescents. Further research is needed to explore these gender differences more in-depth. It will be important to continue to explore gender-specific relationships and the various aspects of parenting that can lower the risk for substance use among at-risk adolescents.

Mental health problems are increasing in Swedish adolescents and mortality rates are higher in this age group than among younger. 10-20% of all adolescents suffer from a chronic medical condition (CC). Few protective factors (PF) and clustering of health-risk behaviours (HRB) are frequent among adolescents with CCs. One of the most common CC in Swedish adolescents is type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Metabolic control often deteriorates during adolescence, especially in girls. Poor metabolic control is associated with increased risk for long-term complications, of which cognitive problems are common. However, the implication of cognitive/executive problems in patients with T1DM has not been sufficiently studied. Neither has the impact of neurodevelopmental problems (NDP), such as ADHD, on HRB in adolescents with CCs been analysed. Methods: In paper I and II the questionnaire ”Life and Health in Youth” was distributed to all students in year nine and year two of the upper secondary school in the county of Sörmland, 2008 (n=5771) and 2011 (n=5550). Adolescents with CCs were compared to healthy peers with regard to PFs and HRBs. In paper III, the ”Five to Fifteen” questionnaire was used in 175 paediatric patients with T1DM. Patients with indications of NDPs were compared with patients without such problems with regard to metabolic control. In paper IV, the BRIEF questionnaire and the ADHD Rating Scale as well as data from the Swedish Childhood Diabetes Registry was used in 241 adolescents with T1DM. Patients with indications of executive problems were compared with patients without such problems with regard to diabetes control. Results: CCs were associated with few PFs and clustered HRBs. The combination of CCs and low numbers of PFs was found to be associated with an increased risk of clustered HRBs. In the presence of coexisting ADHD the pattern of few PFs and clustering of HRBs was aggravated. ADHD was more common among adolescents with other CCs. Definite memory and learning problems as well as mild executive problems were associated with poor metabolic control, especially among adolescents. Executive problems were also associated with many outpatient visits and low physical activity. Girls with T1DM tended to self-report executive problems to a larger extent than boys, while parents more often reported these problems in boys. Conclusion: Knowledge about factors influencing treatment adherence and life in general is essential in the work with chronically ill adolescents. Focus must be put on enhancing PFs in order to avoid HRBs. Identification of coexisting NDPs, such as ADHD, is crucial, since such problems can adversely influence treatment adherence, HRBs and school achievements

Thesis (MPhil (Sociology and Social Anthropology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study examines the implementation of an intervention aimed at stopping alcohol consumption during pregnancy in order to decrease Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and how this affected changes in alcohol consumption. FASD is a growing concern in South Africa where the prevalence rate is almost 12/100 at some schools in the Western Cape; the highest reported FASD rate in the world. FASD is caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy and it is an irreversible mental and physical disability in children. FASD is preventable through abstinence from alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The intervention study (referred to as the Ceres Intervention Study), utilised a cluster-randomised trial design, with a control and intervention group, where the control arm of the study received basic screening and information on FASD, while the intervention arm of the study received a more comprehensive intervention, consisting of a variety of screening and counselling techniques. The study took place during 2007/2008 in the Witzenberg sub-district in Ceres in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The Study used research techniques combined with therapeutic methods and techniques to mediate behaviour change in pregnant women. From the Ceres Intervention Study it was found that 60% of pregnant women changed their drinking behaviour, which led to questions around how this behaviour change took place. The main aim of this study therefore is to examine how pregnant women changed their drinking behaviour during this intervention and also what facilitated the change that was observed. In order to examine the behaviour change, data from the intervention arm and control arm of the study was analysed and a profile of the women was developed. A focus on the intervention arm of the study resulted in distinguishing further between two sub-groups within the intervention arm, namely, the change and no-change groups. Mainly quantitative data was obtained with the use of various tools, however from the comments and experiences of participants, qualitative data could be used as complementary to quantitative data to provide more clarity as to how behaviour change was facilitated in the study. Results from the study suggest that there is a dialectical interplay between client and counsellor which facilitate generative mechanisms that may lead to behaviour change. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie lig die implementering van 'n intervensie toe met die doel om die gebruik van alkohol gedurende swangerskap te stop teneinde Fetale Alkohol Spektrum Afwyking (FASD) te verminder en die gepaardgaande gedragsverandering by swanger vroue te ondersoek. FASD is 'n groeiende probleem in Suid-Afrika waar die voorkoms van FASD by 12/100 kinders by sommige skole in die Weskaap gerapporteer is. FASD word veroorsaak deur alkohol-gebruik tydens swangerskap en kan permanente verstandelike en fisiese gestremdheid by kinders veroorsaak. FASD kan voorkom word deur geen alkohol tydens swangerskap te gebruik nie. Die intervensie (of die Ceres Intervensie-studie) maak gebruik van 'n kliniese ontwerp met 'n kontrole en 'n intervensie groep, waar die kontrole arm van die studie basiese assessering asook inligting oor FASD ontvang het, terwyl die intervensie arm 'n meer omvattende intervensie bestaande uit 'n verskeidenheid assesserings sessies en beradingstegnieke ontvang het. Die studie is gedurende 2007/2008 in die Witzenberg sub-distrik in Ceres in die Weskaap, Suid-Afrika, geïmplementeer. Die studie maak gebruik van navorsingstegnieke gekombineer met wetenskaplik gebaseerde intervensie metodes en tegnieke om gedragsverandering by swanger vroue te onderhandel. In die Ceres Intervensie-studie is bevind dat 60% van die swanger vroue hul alkohol-gebruik gedrag verander het. Dit het aanleiding gegee tot vrae rondom hoe hierdie gedragsverandering plaasgevind het. Die hoofdoel van hierdie studie is dus om te kyk na hoe swanger vroue hul alkohol-gebruik verander het gedurende die intervensie asook wat hierdie verandering in gedrag moontlik gemaak het. Om hierdie gedragsverandering te ondersoek is data van die intervensie arm en kontrole arm ontleed en is 'n profiel van die vroue saamgestel. Die fokus op die intervensie arm van die studie het aanleiding gegee tot die verdere onderskeiding tussen twee sub-groepe binne die intervensie arm, naamlik, die groep wat verander het en die groep wat nie verander het nie. Kwantitatiewe data is hoofsaaklik ingesamel, alhoewel kwalitatiewe data wat verkry is uit opmerkings en ondervindings van deelnemers as aanvullende inligting tot die kwantitatiewe data gebruik is teneinde die gedragsverandering wat plaasgevind het toe te lig. Bevindinge uit die studie dui op 'n dialektiese verhouding tussen klient en berader wat skeppende meganismes teweeg bring en sodoende moontlike gedragsverandering bevorder.

Denna studie är en fallstudie vid två av Magelungens dagverksamheter. Studien inkluderar tre olika perspektiv: ungdom, förälder och behandlare. Syftet med studien har varit att undersöka informanternas upplevelser av ungdomens tid på Magelungens dagverksamhet. Detta har gjorts genom en kvalitativ metod där sekundärdata, i form av nio intervjuer genomförda av Magelungens forskningsgrupp, har bearbetats och analyserats genom meningskoncentrering. Studien tar avstamp i den kunskapslucka kring kvalitativ forskning om dagverksamheter som forskningsgenomgången visar på. Resultatet tyder på att informanterna generellt sett är nöjda med tiden på dagverksamheten. Det positiva kretsar kring gemenskap, det lilla sammanhanget, personalens förhållningssätt och en individanpassad verksamhet som inkluderar flera områden. Det framkommer även negativa upplevelser som då framförallt handlar om att personalen borde ställt mer krav på ungdomarna. Det kretsar även kring att ungdomarna inte förbereddes tillräckligt inför avslutet från Magelungen och övergången till ”en vanlig skola”. De negativa upplevelserna kommer framförallt från föräldrar och personal medan ungdomarna själva är mer positiva. I diskussionen har systemteori samt risk- och skyddsfaktorer använts som utgångspunkt för att tolka resultaten. Resultaten diskuteras vidare i förhållande till implikationer för vidare forskning utifrån svårigheterna i att bedöma dagverksamheternas kvalitet då ungdomar placerade där utgör en mycket heterogen grupp. / This study is a case study at two of Magelungens day treatment centers. The study includes three different perspectives: adolescent, parent and therapist. The purpose of this study was to investigate the interviewees' experiences of the adolescents’ time at Magelungens day treatment center. This has been done through a qualitative approach where secondary data, in the form of nine interviews conducted by Magelungens research group, were processed and analyzed by the method of sense concentration. The study takes off from the gap of knowledge on qualitative research on day treatment centers as the research review shows.  The result indicates that the interviewees are generally satisfied with the adolescents’ time at the day treatment center. The positive experiences revolve around solidarity, the small context, the approach of the staff and an individualized setting that includes several domains. It also reveals negative experiences that mostly centers on the fact that the staff should have put more demands on the adolescents. It also revolves around the adolescents not being prepared enough for the transition to “a regular school”. The negative experiences mainly belong to the parents and staff, while the adolescents themselves are more positive. In the discussion, systems theory as well as the understanding of risk and protective factors is used as a basis for interpreting the results. The results are further discussed in relation to implications for further research with regards to the difficulties in assessing the quality of day treatment centers since the adolescents placed there are such a heterogeneous group.

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur begreppet skyddsfaktorer hos barn och ungdomar synliggörs och hur kunskap om ämnet tillämpas i tre svenska skolbaserade preventionsprogram: Social och Emotionell Träning (SET), Örebro Preventionsprogram (ÖPP) och Community Parent Education Program (COPE). Tidigare forskning om barn och ungdomars skyddsfaktorer talar för att ett främjande av dessa faktorer kan hjälpa barn och ungdomar undvika att utveckla ett normbrytande beteende. Den här studien har inriktat sig på skolbaserade preventionsprogram då skolan är den sociala arena där barn och ungdomar spenderar majoriteten av sin vakna tid. Studiens frågeställningar är som följer: - Hur synliggörs begreppet skyddsfaktorer i programbeskrivningarna för de tre utvalda skolbaserade preventionsprogrammen? - Hur tillämpas den kunskap som finns om skyddsfaktorer i det praktiska arbetet med preventionsprogrammen enligt hur det beskrivs i programbeskrivningarna? - Finns det några likheter eller skillnader mellan programmen med avseende på deras tillämpning av kunskaper om skyddsfaktorers betydelse? En innehållsanalys av preventionsprogrammens egna material har genomförts utifrån två utvalda teman: preventionsprogrammens utformning och bakgrund samt skyddsfaktorer – hur begreppet synliggörs och hur kunskaper används. Resultaten har därefter kopplats till tidigare forskning om barn och ungdomars skyddsfaktorer. Antonovskys teorier om det salutogena perspektivet och KASAM (Känsla Av SAMmanhang) samt systemteori och Bronfenbrenners utvecklingsekologiska modell har utgjort studiens teoretiska referensramar. Genom analys av resultatet har det framkommit att de olika preventionsprogrammen skiljer sig åt i sin utformning. Dels huruvida de är ett universellt eller selektivt preventionsprogram och dels huruvida de fokuserar på barnens och ungdomarnas individuella skyddsfaktorer eller skyddsfaktorer i familjen. Endast ett av preventionsprogrammen tog uttryckligen upp skyddsfaktorer hos barn och ungdomar i sitt material och kopplade denna kunskap till programmets utformning samt genomförande. I materialet som tillhör de andra två preventionsprogrammen blev begreppet och kunskapen inte lika tydlig, men ämnet blev ändå synligt på mer implicita sätt. / This bachelor thesis aims to explore how the concept of protective factors among children and youths are made visible and how knowledge on the subject is implemented in three Swedish school-based prevention programs: Social och Emotionell Träning (SET), Örebro Preventionsprogram (ÖPP) and Community Parent Education Program (COPE). Existing research on protective factors among children and youths suggests that a promoting of these factors within the lives of vulnerable children and youths can help them resist a development of an antisocial behavior. This bachelor thesis will be looking at school-based preventions programs because school is the social arena where most kids spend a majority of their time spent outside of their home. The study aims to answer the following questions: - How is the concept of protective factors made visible in the program descriptions of the three school-based prevention programs? - How is knowledge on the subject of protective factors implemented in the practice of the prevention programs according to how it is described in the program descriptions? - Are there any similarities or differences between the programs in regard to their implementation of knowledge on the subject of protective factors and their importance? A content analysis was performed on the literature of the three prevention programs on the basis of two chosen themes: the prevention programs design and background as well as protective factors – how the concept is made visible and how knowledge is implemented. The results have then been connected to existing research on protective factors among children and youths. The theoretical framework of the study consists of Antonovsky’s theory on the salutogenic model and SOC (Sense of Coherence) as well as systems theory and Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model. When analyzing the material it was found that the three prevention programs were different in their design. Partly whether they are universal or selective preventions, and partly whether they have chosen to aim their focus at the children and youths individual protective factors or on their parental protective factors. Only one of the prevention programs explicitly mentioned protective factors in its material and implemented the knowledge on the subject in the programs design and execution. In the material belonging to the other two prevention programs the concept of protective factors and knowledge on the subject was not as apparent, but the subject was still visible in more implicit ways.