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Indicator: Risk and Protective Factors in Youth

Data and Data Discussion provided by Communities Count

Figure 1: Percent of Students Reporting Protective Factors

FIgure 2: Number of Protective Factors and Alcohol/Drug Use

Figure 3: Percent of Students Reporting Risk Factors

Figure 4: Number of Risk Factors and Alcohol/Drug Use

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Upstream Indicators

There are currently no published Upstream Indicators.

Downstream Indicators
  •   High School Graduation Rate --- 91.7 percent of King County residents aged 25 and older had a high school education or greater, while the on-time graduation rate for high school students in King County in 2005 was 76.5%. No statistically significant trends were observed in the preceding 5 years.   (view data graph)
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Related Goals

Sustainability Snapshot:

As they grow up, youth are exposed to conditions in their homes, schools, and communities which may either increase their risk for, or protect them from, problems such as abusing drugs or engaging in reckless behavior. The most effective approach to supporting young people in their healthy development is to reduce risk factors while increasing protective factors in all of the areas that touch their lives.

Sustainability Trend:

Participation by King County schools in the Healthy Youth Survey has not been consistent and therefore limits what can be concluded. The percentages for King County 8th graders may or may not be representative. The 2004 figures show that most youth report having some level of certain protective factors in their daily lives. Many do not.

Data Discussion

The Indicator Defined

Percent of 8th Grade Students Who Reported They Experienced Specific Protective and Risk Factors, King County Public Schools

Data Interpretation/Evaluation

The Healthy Youth Survey (HYS) is conducted across Washington State schools every two years. Participation by King County schools in the HYS has not been consistent and therefore limits what can be concluded. The percentages for King County 8th graders may or may not be representative.

Protective factors promote positive development and resilience in youth. In 2006, 56% of King County 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students reported 5 or more protective factors. However, almost one out of every 5 tudents (18%) reported 0-2 protective factors (data not shown). The level of protective factors was similar in King County and Washington State (data not shown). King County youth who reported a greater number of protective factors were less likely to use alcohol and drugs. The same relationship was found statewide (data not shown).

Risk factors may be associated with risky decision-making or harmful behaviors. King County 10th and 12th graders were less likely than Washington State 10th and 12th graders to believe that “handguns are easily available” or to feel that “community laws and norms are favorable to drug use”. All other factors were similar (data not shown).

In 2006, 15% of King County 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students reported 10 or more risk factors. 62% of students reported 5 or fewer risk factors. King County youth who experience a higher number of risk factors were more likely to use alcohol and drugs. The same relationship was found statewide (data not shown).

Data Source and Limitations

Risk and Protective Factors was contributed by Communities Count (www.communitiescount.org) and are from the 2006 Washington State Survey of Adolescent Health Behavior which is collected every two years. Many King County schools participated, but not the same schools each survey year. Results may or may not be representative of the actual population of public school students. A second limitation of the risk and protective factor data is that the questions have not been asked in a consistent way over the years, making it impossible to track real changes over time.

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