CPS Risk & Protective Factors 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are best categorized as which type of risk factor?
- Community-level environmental risk factors
- Individual biological risk factors
- Family and individual-level risk factors (Correct answer)
- Peer and school-level risk factors
Correct answer: Family and individual-level risk factors
ACEs are primarily family and individual-level risk factors that include abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction experienced during childhood.
Question 2: Which of the following represents a community-level protective factor against substance abuse?
- Individual coping and refusal skills
- Strong family communication patterns
- Access to quality recreational programs and supervised activities (Correct answer)
- Academic achievement and school bonding
Correct answer: Access to quality recreational programs and supervised activities
Access to quality recreational programs is a community-level protective factor that provides structured activities, adult supervision, and positive social connections for youth.
Question 3: The '40 Developmental Assets' framework developed by Search Institute organizes protective factors into which two broad categories?
- Internal assets and external assets (Correct answer)
- Individual assets and community assets
- Social assets and behavioral assets
- Risk reduction assets and resilience promotion assets
Correct answer: Internal assets and external assets
The Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets framework organizes protective factors into internal assets (personal qualities, values, competencies) and external assets (external supports and opportunities).
Question 4: According to Problem Behavior Theory (Jessor & Jessor), which characteristic within the personality system increases risk for adolescent problem behavior?
- Strong perceived life chances and positive expectations
- High value placed on academic achievement
- High tolerance of deviance (Correct answer)
- Involvement in conventional activities and institutions
Correct answer: High tolerance of deviance
Problem Behavior Theory identifies high tolerance of deviance within the personality system as a key risk factor that increases the likelihood of engaging in problem behaviors.
Question 5: Which strategy most directly targets risk factors at the community level?
- Life skills training delivered to individual students
- Family therapy for youth identified as at risk
- Zoning restrictions that limit density of alcohol outlets (Correct answer)
- Peer mentoring programs implemented in schools
Correct answer: Zoning restrictions that limit density of alcohol outlets
Zoning restrictions on alcohol outlets directly target community-level environmental risk factors by reducing physical availability and access to alcohol.
Question 6: Resilience in prevention science is best defined as:
- The complete absence of risk factors in an individual's environment
- The ability to adapt successfully despite exposure to significant adversity (Correct answer)
- Natural immunity some individuals possess against substance use disorders
- The protective effect of high socioeconomic status on youth outcomes
Correct answer: The ability to adapt successfully despite exposure to significant adversity
Resilience is defined as successful adaptation and positive functioning despite exposure to significant risk or adversity rather than the absence of risk.
Question 7: Which school-level protective factor has the strongest research evidence for reducing substance use risk among adolescents?
- Strict zero-tolerance drug policies with mandatory consequences
- School bonding and connectedness to school community (Correct answer)
- Random locker and bag searches
- Mandatory drug education assemblies held annually
Correct answer: School bonding and connectedness to school community
School bonding and connectedness—a student's sense of belonging and caring relationships with teachers—has the strongest evidence as a school-level protective factor reducing substance use risk.
CPS Risk & Protective Factors 2
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are best categorized as which type of risk factor?