Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
- 1 Adolescent Suicide: An Overview of the Epidemiology
- 2 Risk and Predisposing Factors in Adolescent Suicide
- 3 Emotional Problems and Adolescent Suicide
- 4 Adolescent Suicide: Cognitive Variables
- ADOLESCENT RISK-TAKING
- 5 Adolescent Risk-Taking: An Overview
- 6 Risk and Predisposing Factors in Adolescent Risk-Taking
- 7 Adolescent Risk-Taking: Cognitive Variables
- A MODEL OF SUICIDE AND RISK-TAKING
- AN EVALUATION OF THE S/RT MODEL
- IMPLICATIONS FOR TREATMENT
- References
- Index
6 - Risk and Predisposing Factors in Adolescent Risk-Taking
from ADOLESCENT RISK-TAKING
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 September 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
- 1 Adolescent Suicide: An Overview of the Epidemiology
- 2 Risk and Predisposing Factors in Adolescent Suicide
- 3 Emotional Problems and Adolescent Suicide
- 4 Adolescent Suicide: Cognitive Variables
- ADOLESCENT RISK-TAKING
- 5 Adolescent Risk-Taking: An Overview
- 6 Risk and Predisposing Factors in Adolescent Risk-Taking
- 7 Adolescent Risk-Taking: Cognitive Variables
- A MODEL OF SUICIDE AND RISK-TAKING
- AN EVALUATION OF THE S/RT MODEL
- IMPLICATIONS FOR TREATMENT
- References
- Index
Summary
The studies outlined later in the book refer to adolescents who are described as exhibiting problem behaviors or conduct disorder. Adolescents with these problems invariably engage in higher than normal levels of risk-taking. We examine the factors that predispose these adolescents to risk-taking.
Environmental Variables
FAMILY DYSFUNCTION
If adolescents feel supported by their families, they are less likely to engage in risk-taking behavior. A study that looked at perceived quality of support found that adolescents with either emotional or behavioral problems were four times more likely to report a lack of family support than students without these problems (Garnefski & Diekstra, 1997). Those adolescents with both emotional and behavioral problems were eight times as likely to feel unsupported by their families. Students who indicated a lack of support from more than one system (family, school, or peers) were also likely to have more problems. These results suggest that similar background problems and family risk factors are involved in the development of both emotional and behavioral problems. These factors may include family dysfunction and real or perceived life stressors.
The development of problem behavior has been linked with the same background factors as suicidal behavior (see Chapter 3). A study into family risk factors for adolescent suicide concluded that family dysfunction is likely to be a nonspecific risk factor for the development of psychopathology in children (Wagner, 1997).
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Out of OptionsA Cognitive Model of Adolescent Suicide and Risk-Taking, pp. 71 - 78Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2004