Factors that Predispose Youth to Risk in Mexico and Chile

Bagby, Emilie; Cunningham, Wendy

Factors that Predispose Youth to Risk in Mexico and Chile

Autores

Descripción

About half of Latin America s youth are considered "at risk," meaning that they engage in or are at risk of engaging in risky behaviors that are detrimental to their own development and to the well-being of their societies. While child psychologists identify many factors that may cause some youth to engage in at-risk behaviors and others not to, only empirical evidence can identify the set that is relevant to a particular population. This paper uses youth surveys from Chile and Mexico to test which of a large set of potential factors are correlated with a range of risky behaviors among youth. These factors range from relationships with parents and institutions to household behaviors (abuse, discipline techniques) to social exclusion. The authors use stepwise regressions to sort out which variables best explain the observed variance in seven different risky behaviors. They find that higher socioeconomic status, a good relationship with parents and peers, strong connection with local governmental institutions and schools, urban residence, younger age, and spirituality emerge as key explanatory factors for all seven behaviors for boys and girls in both countries. This points to a wider range of policy entry points than currently used, including targeting parents and the relationship with schools.

Palabras clave

ADOLESCENCE, ADOLESCENT, ADOLESCENT HEALTH, ADOLESCENT MEDICINE, ADOLESCENTS, ADULTHOOD, AGED, ALCOHOL, ALCOHOL USE, ALGORITHM, ARMED CONFLICT, ATTITUDES TOWARD SCHOOL, AVERAGE AGE, CHILD HEALTH, CHILD LABOR, COMMUNITY HEALTH, CONDOMS, CONNECTEDNESS WITH PARENTS, CONTRACEPTION, CRIME, DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, DEVELOPMENT POLICIES, DISCRIMINATION, DOCTORS, DROPOUT, DRUG USE, DRUGS, EARLY SEXUAL INITIATION, ECONOMIC INEQUALITY, FAMILIES, FAMILY BACKGROUND, FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILY STRUCTURE, FAMILY SUPPORT, FATHER, FATHERS, FEMALE, FEMALES, FIRST CHILD, FIRST PREGNANCY, FIRST SEXUAL EXPERIENCE, GENDER, GENDER ROLES, GENDER STEREOTYPES, GENDERS, GIRLS, HEALTH RISKS, HOSPITALS, HOUSEHOLD INCOME, HOUSEHOLD POVERTY, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, ILLNESS, INITIATE SEXUAL ACTIVITY, JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY, LABOR FORCE, LABOR MARKET, LABOR MARKETS, LACK OF COMMUNICATION, MALES, MARIJUANA, MARIJUANA USE, MENTAL HEALTH, MOTHER, MOTHERS, NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL, NURSING, PARENTAL EDUCATION, PEER RELATIONSHIPS, PERSONALITY, PHYSICAL ABUSE, PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, POLICY RESEARCH, POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER, POLITICAL PARTIES, PREGNANCY, PRIMARY EDUCATION, PRIVATE LIFE, PROGRESS, PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE, PSYCHOLOGISTS, PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC POLICY, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, RELATIONSHIP WITH PARENTS, RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARENTS, RESPECT, RESPONSIBLE ATTITUDES, RISK BEHAVIORS, RISK FACTORS, RISK TAKING, RISKY BEHAVIOR, RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIORS, RURAL AREAS, RURAL RESIDENCE, RURAL WOMEN, SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, SCHOOL QUALITY, SCHOOLS, SECONDARY EDUCATION, SECONDARY SCHOOL, SELF-ESTEEM, SEXUAL ACTIVITY, SEXUAL BEHAVIOR, SEXUAL BEHAVIORS, SEXUAL HEALTH, SEXUAL PRACTICES, SEXUAL RELATIONS, SEXUALLY ACTIVE, SIBLINGS, SMOKING, SOCIAL EXCLUSION, SOCIAL NORMS, SOCIAL PARTICIPATION, SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, SUBSTANCE USE, TEACHING MATERIALS, TEEN, UNEMPLOYMENT, UNPROTECTED SEX, URBAN AREAS, URBAN WOMEN, USE OF CONTRACEPTION, VICTIMS, VIOLENCE, VIRGIN, VULNERABILITY, WAGES, YOUNG ADULTS, YOUNG MEN, YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUNG PERSON, YOUNG WOMEN, YOUTH, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH EMPLOYMENT, YOUTH HEALTH, YOUTH PARTICIPATION, YOUTH POPULATION, YOUTH VIOLENCE, YOUTHS