Adolescent health in the Caribbean: risk and protective factors.

OBJECTIVES This study sought to identify, among youths, factors associated with characteristics such as poor health status, substance use, and suicide risk and to explore the extent to which the risk and protective factors identified cut across health-compromising behaviors. METHODS A survey was administered to representative samples of young people from 9 Caribbean countries. RESULTS Physical/sexual abuse and having a friend or relative who had attempted suicide were associated with an increased prevalence of health-compromising behaviors. Connectedness with parents and school and attendance at religious services were associated with fewer health risk behaviors. CONCLUSIONS When the identified risk and protective factors were compared with those seen among young people in the United States, similarities as well as important differences were found.