AN INVESTIGATION OF RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS IN A SAMPLE OF YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS

The study explored a set of potential risk and protective factors in r elation to criminal activity and adjustment with a group of delinquent youths. The results indicated, first, that risk variables reflecting family relationship and parenting problems were associated with height ened rates of re-offending and lower overall adjustment. Second, the p resence of protective factors relating to positive peer relations, goo d school achievement, positive response to authority and effective use of leisure time was associated with more positive outcomes with contr ols for the risk variables. Third, there was no evidence of interactio n between risk and protective factors; the latter operated similarly a t low and high levels of risk. These results are discussed in terms of their theoretical and applied significance. Copyright (C) 1996 Associ ation for Child Psychology and Psychiatry.