Characteristics Of High Risk Youth

Individual Characteristics of High Risk Youth High risk youth have several individual characteristics unique to them. In the movie To Save a Life (2009), Amy and her boyfriend were normal teenagers. They had many friends; however, they did not have their lives completely together. Although they did not smoke or use drugs, they drank. Their drinking caused them to become high risk youth. Their drinking eventually led them to engage in risky, sexual behavior which resulted in Amy becoming pregnant. Some of the individual characteristics of high risk youth are poor concept of self/self-esteem, limited connectedness, poor coping ability, and lack of control (McWhirter et al, 2013). Another individual characteristic associated with high risk youth is depression (Corcoran, 2016). Each of these characteristics contribute to adolescents becoming involved in risky behavior, such as premarital sex.
Poor Concept of Self/Self-Esteem One of the characteristics unique to high risk youth is poor
Per McWhirter et al (2013), stress is one of the reasons young people have a difficult time coping, which places them at greater risk for becoming involved deviant behavior. They drink, smoke, do drugs, join gangs, and engage in risky, sexual behavior because they are unable to cope with life’s circumstances. The inability to cope can lead high-risk adolescents to become depressed. Depression. The prevalence of depression during adolescence is high (Corcoran, 2016). Adolescents who become pregnant are at a greater risk for depression (Corcoran, 2016). Although pregnant adolescents are at risk for becoming depressed, it is important to note that “teens with untreated depression are more likely to engage in risky, sexual behaviors” (Clinton et al, 2010, p. 93). It is important to realize that some risky, sexual behavior is caused by teenage impulsivity, which leads to some girls becoming