Question

Discuss the factors that cause or influence teenagers to engage in each of these types of risk behaviors identified below:

-underage drinking,
-drug abuse,
-sneaking out to parties,and
-engaging in unprotected sexual activities.

Answer 1

Some factors that encourage teenagers to engage in those unhealthy activities are:

1) peer pressure - the need to be accepted and/ or admired by peers can make people engage in drinking or unplanned sexual activity, with the hope that the peers will "admire them" for that. Peer pressure can also actively force people to do those things for example when handed over an alcohol bottle

2) problems in the family - family problems could make people desperate and make them "seek refuge" or hoping to forget about their problems by drinking, etc

3) mental health problems such as depression can also push people to try out these things.