Which two health concerns rise in adolescence, and what protective factors reduce risk?

Which two health concerns rise in adolescence, and what protective factors reduce risk?

• A. Substance use and risky sexual behaviors; protective factors include supportive relationships, mental health access, and school connectedness
• B. Obesity and smoking; protective factors include exercise
• C. Vision problems and hearing loss; protective factors include regular checkups
• D. Substance use and risky sexual behaviors; protective factors include genetic predisposition

Answer: (A)

During adolescence, risk-taking and experimentation increase as teens seek independence and social belonging. The two health concerns that rise most notably are substance use and risky sexual behaviors. Protective factors that reduce these risks include supportive relationships (families and peers who provide guidance and monitoring), access to mental health services (helping manage stress, anxiety, or depression that might lead to harmful choices), and a sense of school connectedness (feeling part of a positive, structured school community). These protections work by buffering stress, guiding decision-making, and keeping teens engaged in healthy activities, which lowers the likelihood of turning to substances or engaging in unsafe sexual practices. For example, a teen with trusted adults to talk to and access to counseling is more equipped to resist substance use and make safer sexual-health choices. The other options don’t fit as well because they pair different health concerns or protective factors that don’t comprehensively address adolescence risk in the same way, and suggesting a genetic predisposition as a protective factor would not reduce risk.

During adolescence, risk-taking and experimentation increase as teens seek independence and social belonging. The two health concerns that rise most notably are substance use and risky sexual behaviors. Protective factors that reduce these risks include supportive relationships (families and peers who provide guidance and monitoring), access to mental health services (helping manage stress, anxiety, or depression that might lead to harmful choices), and a sense of school connectedness (feeling part of a positive, structured school community). These protections work by buffering stress, guiding decision-making, and keeping teens engaged in healthy activities, which lowers the likelihood of turning to substances or engaging in unsafe sexual practices. For example, a teen with trusted adults to talk to and access to counseling is more equipped to resist substance use and make safer sexual-health choices. The other options don’t fit as well because they pair different health concerns or protective factors that don’t comprehensively address adolescence risk in the same way, and suggesting a genetic predisposition as a protective factor would not reduce risk.