Adolescent risk behaviors have been a focus of research for many years as scientists try to understand what influences are important, and what can be done to prevent risks.

One focus of recent literature is the impact of family connectedness on teenage health.

Research tells us that family connectedness has a positive influence on adolescent risk behaviors such as substance use, interpersonal violence, emotional distress, and sexual behaviors. Many factors that can effect a teenager's development, health, and behavior -- but one major factor is their social environment.

Studies have shown again and again the significance of family connectedness and the tremendous influence it can have on adolescent health. With parental support, communication, and interaction between teens and parents, youth have an increased opportunity to live healthier, more productive lives and are less likely to participate in health risk behaviors.

This is the tenth and final post in a series of blogs about the benefits of connectedness between parents and children.

A research report in 2005, from the journal known as Current Opinion in Pediatrics, explored different parenting practices and how they influence risky behaviors among youth. Researchers reviewed an abundant amount of literature on parenting and teenage risk behaviors.

This is the third in a series of blogs about the benefits of parental supervision.

Parental monitoring is an effective method of preventing your kids from engaging in high risk behaviors. But, this isn’t just about parents monitoring and communication. This fact should send a message to grandparents, aunts, uncles and caring family friends that their relationships and communication with kids can be very beneficial and positive on developing youth.

This is the second in a series of blogs about the benefits of parental monitoring. The first blog looked at how monitoring kids with Type 1 diabetes helps them stick to their treatment schedule.

Today's kids face a ton of risks. Their choices are tough, including issues like drugs and other substances, teenage pregnancy, and what to look at on the Internet. The temptations for kids can be overwhelming. So, parents keep asking themselves, "What can I do to help my child make smart choices?"

The answer? You can do quite a lot!

We hear people often say that their kids "just don’t listen.” But did you ever wonder why they might not be listening?

Take a personal inventory of the way you and your child interact. Does your family typically use any of the following approaches?