Risk and Protection Factors in Thirteen Film - Case Study Example

Risk factors refer to intrinsic and environmental factors which increase the probability of adverse outcomes. Risk factors constitute physiological, behavioural and social factors that increase an individual’s likelihood of drug and substance abuse and dependence, indiscriminate sexual relationships and delinquent behaviours, among other adverse outcomes. In the movie, social risk factors influence Tracy’s truancy. Tracy’s family is dysfunctional.

Melaine is a single mother and a hairdresser by profession, struggling to provide for her family’s financial needs. She is a recovering alcoholic in an unstable relationship with her drug-dependent boyfriend, Brady. In addition, Tracy’s father is a workaholic and does little to support his children emotionally. For example, when Mel reached out to him about Tracy’s substance abuse problems and inclination to engage in delinquent behaviours, he chose not to intervene. Dysfunction at the family level poses a significant risk to the adjustment of an adolescent.

Tracy’s disintegrated family structure deprived her of emotional stability, crucial in reinforcing her principles and self-esteem. As a result, she lacked the willpower to prevent herself from gravitating towards associating with a delinquent peer group. Prominent environmental theorist Urie Bronfenbrenner advanced his ecological approach, which inferred that interactions between different parts of the environment play a pivotal role in the development of an individual. Tracy’s need to fit in with a delinquent peer group affected her relationship with her family members, adversely affected her performance in school and predisposed her to engage in delinquent behaviours.

For example, Tracy steals a wallet from an unsuspecting woman beside her to gain favour with Evie and Astrid. In addition, behavioural risk factors also played a crucial role in increasing Tracy’s likelihood of engaging in maladjusted behaviours. Tracy lacked proper coping mechanisms that were integral in helping her deal with challenges. Each time she encountered a problem, she resorted to self-injury as a coping mechanism. For example, after she fought with her mother, Mel, about her destructive relationship with her boyfriend, Brady, Tracy ran to the bathroom and self-inflicted cuts on her arm. Self-injury is a symptom of severe emotional and psychological disturbances. The fact that Mel was unaware of Tracy’s deep-seated problems affirms a heightened dysfunctional parent-adolescent relationship.