Factors that put people at risk must be identified before they happen to eliminate or reduce the effect of exposure to the risk. Risk Factors for Youth Risk for adolescent problem behavior exists in many areas of life. Youngsters who grow up in a community where there are high rates of mobility, have a greater risk of criminal behavior and substance abuse. Community disorganization is another key risk factor. If people are strongly bonded to their neighborhood, the degree of risk for people growing up there is diminished.
Risk also exists in the social context in which young people grow up, such as family and school.
A family history of alcoholism quadruples the risk of alcoholism in children. However, it is important to remember that exposure to a single risk factor does not condemn an individual to problem behavior. Poor family management, which includes failure to set clear expectations for behavior, failure to monitor children, and excessively severe and inconsistent punishment, contributes to risk for all adolescent problem behaviors. Parents who set clear expectations for their children and then monitor their children in developmentally appropriate ways diminish their risk. Beyond monitoring, reinforcement is important.