RISK & PROTECTIVE FACTORS This chart maps out risk and protective factors and social determinants of health along various points in the social ecological model. Understanding these factors and determinants at the societal, community, and individual/relationship levels can increase the effectiveness of sexual violence prevention efforts. The Social Ecological Model - illustrates how factors influence each other at different levels1 Societal3 (e.g. laws, systems, the media, and widespread social norms) Community3 (e.g. neighborhoods, schools, faith communities, and local organizations) Individual2 (e.g. a person’s attitudes, values, and beliefs) and Relationship2 (e.g. relationships with family, partners, friends, and peers) Risk Factors - are a set of behaviors or conditions that increase the risk for sexual violence perpetration Societal norms that: support sexual violence support male superiority and sexual entitlement maintain women’s inferiority and sexual submissivenessWeak health, economic, gender, educational, and social policies High levels of crime and other forms of violence Poverty Lack of employment opportunities Lack of institutional support from police and judicial system General tolerance of sexual violence within the community Weak community sanctions against sexual violence perpetrators Family environment characterized by physical violence and conflict Emotionally unsupportive family environment Poor parent-child relationships Association with sexually aggressive, hypermasculine, and delinquent peers General aggressiveness and acceptance of violence Adherence to traditional gender role norms Hypermasculinity and lack of empathy Protective Factors - are behaviors or conditions that reduce or buffer against the risk for sexual violence perpetration (At this time there are no evidence-based findings on societal-level protective factors for sexual violence; additional research can help fill this gap) Community support/connectedness Coordination of resources and services among community agencies Access to mental health and substance abuse services Connection/commitment to school Connection with a caring adult Affiliation with pro-social peers Emotional health and connectedness Empathy and concern for how one’s actions affect others Social Determinants - of health are conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age4 Social norms and attitudes (racism, sexism, ableism, and other forms of oppression) Socioeconomic conditions Cultural attitudes, norms, and expectations Governmental, corporate, and non-governmental policies Social institutions (e.g. law enforcement) Equitable access to educational, economic, and job opportunities Community engagement Social support and integration, support systems Built environment, such as buildings, sidewalks, bike lanes, and roads Physical barriers, especially for people with disabilities Having resources to meet daily needs like healthy foods & warm clothing Social support and social interactions Equitable access to quality schools and transportation Equitable access to information and services in various languages Equitable access to health insurance and health care Putting it all Together - to increase effectiveness of prevention efforts Sexual violence is inextricably tied to oppression. Focusing on risk and protective factors and social determinants of health can help clarify how anti-oppression efforts can be part of prevention. Working in collaboration with communities around shared risk and protective factors can be an effective way to stretch limited funding, strengthen partnerships, and increase reach. Every individual exists within larger communities and our shared society. It is vital to link individual and relationship-level risk and protective factors to those at the community and society level, as well as related social determinants of health. Making these connections can create more effective change. What are risk and protective factors? Risk factors are a set of behaviors and/or conditions associated with a greater likelihood of sexual violence perpetration, and protective factors are behaviors and/or conditions that may reduce or buffer against the risk for sexual violence perpetration. These are contributing factors and might not be direct causes. Not everyone impacted by risk factors goes on to use violence against others. Why are they important to use in our work? Risk and protective factors can connect us to others doing complementary work There are risk and protective factors common to many public health issues, such as suicide, bullying, and teen dating violence. There are even connections with efforts to increase healthy families and communities, create pay equity and economic justice, and end racism and other forms of oppression. We can work together around shared risk and protective factors to stretch limited funding, create and strengthen partnerships, and increase reach. Risk and protective factors can connect larger societal issues and oppression to our prevention work We choose how to behave based on our beliefs and values, which are shaped by our relationships, families, communities, and societal norms. Because primary prevention aims to prevent sexual violence before it even has a chance to happen, we must influence all the areas that shape our beliefs and values. This means that focusing on societal issues like pay equity, anti-oppression, and healthy communities is also a way to prevent sexual violence. Risk and protective factors can help us talk about our prevention work Referencing risk and protective factors can be a helpful way to show that our prevention work is based in evidence. It can help us connect our work to specific behaviors, values, and systemic norms associated with a lower prevalence of sexual violence. It can also help us highlight the connections between social determinants of health and sexual violence prevention. Additional Resources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Connecting the dots: Exploring the overlaps between multiple forms of violence and working toward collaborative prevention. Retrieved from https://vetoviolence.cdc.gov/apps/connecting-the-dots/ Wilkins, N., Tsao, B., Hertz, M., Davis, R., & Klevens, J. (2014). Connecting the dots: An overview of the links among multiple forms of violence. Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/connecting_the_dots-a.pdf References 1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). The social-ecological model: A framework for prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/publichealthissue/social-ecologicalmodel.html 2Tharp, T. T, DeGue, S., Valle, L. A., Brookmeyer, K. A., Massetti, G. M., & Matjasko, J. L. (2012). A systemic qualitative review of risk and protective factors for sexual violence perpetration. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 14, 133-167. doi:10.1177/1524838012470031 3Krug, E. G., Dahlberg, L. L., Mercy, J. A., Zwi, A. B., & Lozano, R. (Eds.). (2002). World report on violence and health. Retrieved from the World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/world_report/en/full_en.pdf?ua= 4World Health Organization. (n.d.). Social determinants of health. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/social_determinants/sdh_definition/en/ NSVRC would like to thank for Linda Dahlberg, Senior Advisor to the Director, CDC’s Division of Violence Prevention for review and contributions to this publication. www.nsvrc.org | resources@nsvrc.org | (877) 739-3895 | © 2019 National Sexual Violence Resource Center.