Individual‐, family‐, and school‐level interventions targeting multiple risk behaviours in young people

Engagement in one risk behaviour during adolescence increases the likelihood of engagement in other risk behaviours and multiple risk behaviours may cluster together. As such, shared biological and environmental factors may influence the development of multiple risk behaviours, and preventive interventions may therefore have an impact on more than one outcome. Nevertheless, the majority of studies have focused on single behaviours and relatively little is known about the effectiveness of interventions that target multiple behaviours during adolescence. 

A Cochrane systematic review was undertaken to examine the effectiveness of individual, school and family interventions that aim to prevent two or more behaviours, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, use of illicit drugs, antisocial behaviour and offending, self-harm, gambling, vehicle-related risk behaviours, sexual risk behaviour, activity levels and unhealthy diet. The review considered the effectiveness of universal interventions and those targeted to high-risk groups implemented from the antenatal period up to age 18 years. Examples of such interventions were those that attempted to improve parenting skills, those addressing communication between teachers or parents and children; and interventions that aimed to strengthen adolescents’ life skills, decision-making and/or resilience.

The review can be found here: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD009927.pub2/full