Youth Resilience Framework for reducing health-risk behaviors in adolescents

Abstract

Adolescents engage in risky behaviors that compromise their health. Leading causes of morbidity and mortality are associated with a few preventable health-risk behaviors initiated in childhood and early adolescence. Interventions that enhance protective factors in childhood are needed to offset these vulnerabilities and thus promote the health of adolescents. The Youth Resilience Framework is presented that addresses individual and sociocultural risk factors and protective resources that can influence health outcomes throughout adolescence. This framework incorporates a developmental approach to address precursors and health-risk behaviors that may be amenable to early health-promoting interventions.