A protective factor that helps youth avoid substance use includes?

A protective factor that helps youth avoid substance use includes?

• A. Weak family support
• B. School connectedness
• C. Peer pressure
• D. Low self-efficacy

Answer: (B)

Protective factors strengthen a young person’s ability to resist substances by creating a positive, supportive environment. School connectedness means students feel they belong at school, are valued by teachers and peers, and are engaged in the school community. This sense of belonging acts as a buffer against substance use: it increases supervision, fosters healthy norms that discourage drug taking, encourages positive decisions, and gives students a reliable support system to turn to when facing pressure. When youth feel connected to school, they’re more likely to stay engaged, set goals, and make choices that align with those goals. Weak family support undermines safety nets and can heighten risk rather than reduce it. Peer pressure often relates to influences that push toward use, not away from it, making it a risk factor in this context. Low self-efficacy—believing one can’t resist offers—also lowers the ability to say no, increasing risk. So the factor that best serves as a protective influence is a strong sense of school connectedness.

Protective factors strengthen a young person’s ability to resist substances by creating a positive, supportive environment. School connectedness means students feel they belong at school, are valued by teachers and peers, and are engaged in the school community. This sense of belonging acts as a buffer against substance use: it increases supervision, fosters healthy norms that discourage drug taking, encourages positive decisions, and gives students a reliable support system to turn to when facing pressure. When youth feel connected to school, they’re more likely to stay engaged, set goals, and make choices that align with those goals.

Weak family support undermines safety nets and can heighten risk rather than reduce it. Peer pressure often relates to influences that push toward use, not away from it, making it a risk factor in this context. Low self-efficacy—believing one can’t resist offers—also lowers the ability to say no, increasing risk. So the factor that best serves as a protective influence is a strong sense of school connectedness.