The triply troubled teenager – chronic conditions associated with fewer protective factors and clustered risk behaviours

Aim This study aimed to measure protective factors and risk behaviour among adolescents with chronic conditions ( CC s) and to evaluate the impact of protective factors on risk‐taking. Methods A population‐based study of 7262 students aged 15 and 17 years old was performed in S örmland, S weden 2008 (response rate 82%). The questionnaire explored background factors, CC s, risk behaviours and protective factors. CC s were reported by 8%, while 58% had no health problems. Results Girls with CC s encompassed less individual protective factors, while boys with CC s tended to over‐report all individual risk behaviours compared with healthy peers. Both boys and girls with CC s were more likely to report few protective factors and co‐occurrence of risk behaviours. The adj OR for clustered health risk behaviours was 1.6 (1.0–2.5) in youths with CC s and ≥4 protective factors and 6.3 (3.6–10.9) in youths with CC s and 0–3 protective factors, as compared to healthy peers with ≥4 protective factors. Conclusion Adolescents with CC s reported fewer protective factors and more risk behaviours than their healthy peers. The vulnerability of adolescents with CC s and few protective factors is important to acknowledge. Professionals should provide stronger protection for these adolescents, to prevent risky behaviour.