Advances in prevention in public health2 provide a model for prevention of adolescent health - risk
behaviors by focusing on risk and protective factors predictive of these
behaviors.3, 4 Research on the predictors of school failure, delinquency, drug abuse, teen pregnancy, and violence indicates that many of the same factors predict these
different outcomes.5, 6 Recent research has shown that bonding to school and family protects
against a broad range of health - risk
behaviors in adoles cence.6 Yet, prevention studies typically have focused narrowly on a specific outcome, such as preventing substance abuse, and on attitudes and social influences that predict that outcome.7, 8 Previous studies on prevention have not sought to address the shared risk and protective factors for diverse health - risk
behaviors that are the main threats to adolescent health.