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Surveying adolescents: Focusing on positive development
Elizabeth M Saewyc1, Roger Tonkin
1McCreary Centre Society and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Paediatrics & Child Health
|January 3, 2009
Summary
Promoting protective factors like family and school connections is crucial for adolescent thriving, not just reducing risks. These factors help youth navigate adolescence successfully, even amid challenges.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Health
- Youth Development
- Public Health
Background:
- Adolescent development is influenced by both risk behaviors and protective factors.
- Reducing risks alone is insufficient for positive youth outcomes.
- Protective factors buffer risks and promote thriving.
Purpose of the Study:
- To monitor risk behaviors and protective factors in British Columbia high school students.
- To understand the relationship between protective factors and adolescent well-being.
- To inform strategies for fostering healthy youth development.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal monitoring of high school students since 1992.
- Data collection on risk behaviors (e.g., substance use, unsafe sex).
- Assessment of protective factors (e.g., family/school connectedness, peer support).
Main Results:
- Most youth are not exposed to high levels of risk behaviors.
- Majority of adolescents report positive connections to family and school.
- Key protective factors are linked to lower risk behaviors and better outcomes.
- Protective factors support youth facing adversity.
Conclusions:
- A paradigm shift towards promoting protective factors is essential in adolescent health.
- Clinicians play a vital role in fostering healthy youth development.
- Collaborative efforts between clinicians, families, and schools are key.
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