Question

What are the six areas of risk and protective factors in the Juvenile Delinquency? Juvenile Justice.

Answer 1

A risk factor is defined as anything that increases the probability that a person will suffer harm while a protective factor is defined as something that decreases the potential harmful effect of a risk factor. Risk and protective factors for child delinquency have been identified in ceratin domains: Individual, Family. Peers and School/community. Description of eacg domain is given below:

Indiviual:

Risk factors:

• Early antisocial behavior and emotional factors such as low behavioral inhibitions
• Poor cognitive development
• Hyperactivity

Protective factors:

• High IQ
• Positive social skills
• Willingness to please adults
• Religious and club affiliations

Family:

Risk factors:

• Inadequate or inappropriate child rearing practices,
• Large family size
• Parental antisocial history
• Poverty
• Exposure to repeated family violence
• Divorce

Prptective factors:

• Participation in shared activities between youth and family
• Providing the forum to discuss problems and issues with parents
• Availability of economic and other resources to expose youth to multiple experiences

Peer:

Risk factors:

• Spending time with peers who engage in delinquent or risky behavior
• Gang involvement
• Less exposure to positive social opportunities because of bullying and rejection

Protective factors:

• Positive and healthy friends to associate with
• Engagement in healthy and safe activities with peers during leisure time (e.g., clubs, sports, other recreation)

School/community:

Risk factors:

• Poor academic performance
• Low commitment to school
• Low educational aspirations
• Poor motivation
• Living in an impoverished neighborhood

Protective factors:

• Schools that provide a safe environment
• A community and neighborhood that promote and foster healthy activities for youth