Research

That Difficult Age: Developing a More Effective Response to Risks in Adolescence

29 July 2019 3 mins read Barnardo’S Barnardo’S Safeguarding and child protection Youth Justice Child Sexual Abuse & Exploitation

Drawing on evidence from research and practice, this paper breaks down the understanding of risk in adolescence into a set of principles designed to encourage an "adolescent-centred" approach to supporting young people.

Key Messages

Responses to adolescent risk are ineffective and do not fit with the lived experience of young people.

This is due, in part, to safeguarding processes being primarily designed to respond to intra-familial risks facing younger children. But the report also says there is insufficient understanding of risks and their contributors, and understanding of ways to promote the strengths and opportunities of adolescence.

The report states that in their journey to adulthood, adolescents often make choices or engage in behaviours which are influenced by specific developmental processes underpinned by social and developmental influences - for example, risk-taking, emotional highs and lows, and sensitivity to peer influence. These factors can be exploited by others.

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