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Protective and Risk
Factors of Late
Adolescents to Early
Adulthood
Lesson Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
1. Define protective and risk factors as they relate to late
adolescence and early adulthood.
2. Classify protective and risk factors into individual, family,
peer/social, and community/environmental categories.
3. Identify specific examples of protective and risk factors within
each classification.
4. Analyze how protective and risk factors influence behavioral,
emotional, and social outcomes during the transition from late
adolescence to early adulthood.
5. Evaluate interventions aimed at reducing risk factors and
promoting protective factors during late adolescence to early
adulthood.
Before we start, let’s watch this video.
Watch attentively because at the end
of the video, you will be asked
questions.
Questions
1.Who in your life supports you when you take risks,
and how does their support influence your
confidence in trying new things?
2.Think of a time when you took a positive or negative
risk? What was the outcome, and how did it affect
your confidence or skills?
Protective and Risk Factors in Late
Adolescence to Early Adulthood
These are conditions or attributes that respectively
increase resilience or vulnerability to negative outcomes
during the transition from late adolescence to early
adulthood.
Understanding these factors helps in promoting healthy
development and preventing problems such as violence,
substance abuse, mental health disorders, and risky
behaviors.
Adolescence
It is the transitional phase of life between childhood and
adulthood, typically defined as the period from ages 10
to 19 by the World Health Organization (WHO), though
some definitions extend it up to age 24 to better reflect
biological and social development.
This stage involves rapid and significant physical,
cognitive, emotional, and social changes, including
puberty, identity formation, and increasing
independence from parents.
3 STAGES OF
ADOLESCENCE
Early Adolescence (10 to 13 years)
Puberty typically begins in this phase.
There's notable physical growth and an increase in sexual
interest.
Visible body changes begin to show—such as hair growth under
the arms and near the genitals, breast development in females,
and testicular enlargement in males.
These changes may begin as early as age 8 for girls and age 9 for
boys.
Girls may experience their first menstruation around age 12.
These physical transformations can trigger curiosity and even
anxiety among adolescents.
Cognitive Development during Early Adolescence
Intellectual interests broaden, with early adolescents beginning to
explore deeper and more abstract moral thinking.
They begin to value greater independence and often seek more
privacy in their daily lives.
It's typical for pre-teens to test boundaries and react strongly to
imposed limits, as part of establishing a sense of personal identity
and autonomy.
Middle Adolescence (14 to 17 years)
Puberty continues for both males and females during this phase.
Males often experience a noticeable growth spurt and voice
deepening, sometimes with voice cracking.
Females usually have slowed physical growth, and by this age,
most have established regular menstrual cycles.
Teenagers begin showing an increased interest in romantic and
sexual relationships.
This stage often involves questioning or exploring sexual identity,
including self-exploration and curiosity about the body.
Adolescent Behavioral and Psychological Development
Teens may experience increased conflicts with parents as they
seek greater autonomy and decision-making power.
There's a noticeable shift toward spending more time with peers
and less with family—friendships become central.
A heightened sense of self emerges; teens often become more
concerned with their appearance, influenced by peer pressure
and social comparison.
Cognitive growth continues, allowing for more abstract thinking,
though decision-making is still often driven by emotion rather
than logic.
Late Adolescence (18 to 21 and beyond)
 Physical maturity has usually been reached—most individuals have grown
to their full adult height.
 Cognitive maturity becomes prominent: individuals begin to think more
rationally, demonstrate impulse control, and delay gratification.
 There's an increased ability to plan long-term, reflect on consequences, and
set meaningful goals.
 Emotional development includes greater independence, emotional stability,
and forming mature relationships—both platonic and romantic.
 Many begin to redefine relationships with parents, viewing them less as
authority figures and more as peers, often referred to as developing an
"adult relationship" with them.
Stage Age Range
Key Physical
Changes
Cognitive
Changes
Emotional/
Social
Changes
Early
Adolescence
10–13
Puberty onset,
growth of body
hair,
menstruation
begins
Concrete, black-
and-white
thinking;
egocentrism
Self-
consciousness,
privacy needs,
boundary testing
Middle
Adolescence
14–17
Growth spurts,
voice changes,
regular
menstruation
Abstract thinking
improves;
impulsivity
remains
Peer focus,
romantic
interest, parent
conflicts
Late
Adolescence
18–21+
Physical maturity
complete
Rational thinking,
planning,
impulse control
Emotional
stability, identity
formation,
TYPES AND
CLASSIFICATION OF
PROTECTIVE AND RISK
FACTORS
1. Individual Factors
Protective Factors
Positive self-image and self-control
Social competence and anxiety about aggressive
behavior (which can inhibit violence)
High educational aspirations
Good impulse control
Healthy coping and problem-solving skills
Physical health and regular exercise
1. Individual Factors
Risk Factors
 Aggressiveness and poor impulse control
 Conduct problems and externalizing behaviors
 Substance use (tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs) in
adolescence
 Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression
 Exposure to violent media
 Early pubertal timing linked to stress and adversity
2. Family Factors
Protective Factors
Safe, stable, and nurturing family relationships
Parental monitoring, supervision, and consistent rule
enforcement
Family involvement in activities (e.g., church attendance)
Caregivers with steady employment and higher education
Positive family interactions and conflict resolution skills
Secure infant-other attachment buffering effects of adversity
2. Family Factors
Risk Factors
 Low socioeconomic status
 Negative family interactions and conflict
 Family instability or absence of caregivers (e.g., father
absence)
 Exposure to abuse or neglect
3. Peer and Social Factors
Protective Factors
Positive friendships and peer networks
Supportive mentors or caring adults outside the family
Engagement in school and community activities
Connectedness to community and social support
networks
3. Peer and Social Factors
Risk Factors
 Peer pressure to engage in risky behaviors
 Social rejection or isolation
 Exposure to communities with high rates of violence or
poverty
4. Community and Environmental Factors
Protective Factors
Access to economic and financial support
Availability of medical care and mental health services
Safe, stable housing and childcare
Safe after-school programs and high-quality preschool
Family-friendly work policies and community
partnerships
Communities where violence is not tolerated
4. Community and Environmental Factors
Risk Factors
 Living in communities with high violence and crime
rates
 Limited educational and economic opportunities
 Exposure to environmental toxins affecting
development
INTERVENTIONS FOR
RISK FACTORS IN LATE
ADOLESCENCE TO
EARLY ADULTHOOD
 Interventions aimed at reducing risk factors during late
adolescence to early adulthood focus on preventing behaviors
like substance abuse, violence, and mental health issues. These
interventions are categorized into: (4)
1. Family-Based Interventions
 Enhance parent-child relationships and parental monitoring,
which buffer against early puberty-related behavior problems
and reduce risk-taking.
 Parenting education and support to improve communication
and supervision.
2. School-Based Programs
 Provide comprehensive health education addressing multiple
risk behaviors (substance use, sexual health, violence
prevention).
 Foster positive school climate, peer support, and student
engagement to reduce risk behaviors.
 Implement booster sessions to sustain long-term effects.
3. Community and Policy Interventions
 Enforce laws increasing minimum legal drinking age and
restricting access to substances.
 Improve access to contraception and sexual health services to
reduce unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted
infections.
 Create safe recreational spaces and after-school programs.
4. Mental Health and Counseling Services
 Early identification and treatment of anxiety, depression, and
conduct problems.
 Trauma-informed care for adolescents exposed to violence or
abuse.
 Effective strategies include strengthening family relationships,
providing comprehensive school-based programs, enforcing
supportive community policies, and offering mental health
services.
 Combining multiple approaches and maintaining long-term
support improves outcomes by promoting protective factors
such as positive relationships, healthy decision-making, and
access to resources.
Multiple Choice
Instruction:
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. What is a protective factor at the
individual level during late adolescence?
a. Positive self-image and self-control
b. Aggressiveness and poor impulse
control
c. Exposure to violent media
d. Early pubertal timing linked to stress
2. Which of the following is a risk factor at
the family level?
a. Family involvement in activities
b. Positive family interactions
c. Low socioeconomic status
3. What is a key characteristic of
cognitive development during late
adolescence?
a. Rational thinking and impulse
control
b. Egocentrism and concrete thinking
c. Abstract thinking with impulsivity
d. Testing boundaries and privacy
needs
4. Which intervention is aimed at
reducing risk factors in late
adolescence?
a. Encouraging early pubertal timing
5. What is a protective factor at the
peer/social level?
a. Peer pressure to engage in risky
behaviors
b. Social rejection or isolation
c. Positive friendships and peer networks
d. Exposure to communities with high
violence
6. Which of the following is a risk factor at
the community/environmental level?
a. Living in communities with high
violence b. Access to economic and
financial support c. Availability of mental
health services
d. Safe after-school programs
7. What is a characteristic of
emotional development during late
adolescence? a. Focus on peer
relationships
b. Increased conflicts with parents
c. Testing boundaries and privacy
needs d. Greater independence and
emotional stability
8. Which of the following is an
example of a school-based
intervention?
a. Providing comprehensive health
education
b. Parenting education and support
c. Enforcing laws on minimum
9. What is a risk factor associated with
early pubertal timing?
a. Stress and adversity
b. Positive self-image
c. Healthy coping skills
d. Social competence
10. Which protective factor is associated
with family-level interventions?
a. Secure infant-other attachment
b. Exposure to abuse or neglect
c. Negative family interactions
d. Family instability
11. What is a key focus of community
and policy interventions?
a. Improving access to contraception
b. Encouraging substance use
c. Promoting violent media
d. Reducing parental monitoring
12. Which of the following is a risk
factor at the individual level?
a. Mental health issues such as
anxiety b. Good impulse control
c. Healthy coping skills
d. Positive self-image
13. What is a protective factor at the
community/environmental level?
a. Safe, stable housing
b. Exposure to environmental toxins
c. Limited educational opportunities
d. Living in high-crime areas
14. Which of the following is a
characteristic of middle adolescence?
a. Abstract thinking with impulsivity
b. Concrete thinking and egocentrism
c. Rational thinking and impulse control
d. Emotional stability and independence
15. What is a key goal of mental
health and counseling services for
adolescents? a. Early identification of
anxiety and depression
b. Promoting substance use
c. Encouraging violent behavior
d. Reducing parental involvement
Essay (5pts)
1. Discuss how peer and social factors
influence behavioral outcomes during
adolescence.
2. Analyze the role of community and policy
interventions in reducing risk factors and
promoting protective factors.
Answer Key
1. a
2. c
3. a
4. c
5. c
6. a
7. d
8. a
9. a
10. a
11. a
12. a
13. a
14. a
15. a
THANK YOU