Discover Connections
Welcome to the Connections Selector!
This tool makes it easy to connect the dots between multiple types of violence and the risk and protective factors they share at each level of the social-ecological model (SEM).
Understanding these connections can help you prevent multiple forms of violence at once and increase your public health impact.
How to Use This Tool
To see risk and protective factors associated with one type of violence:
- Click on the dot of any violence type
- Then scroll down to the SEM to view its associated Risk Factors
and Protective Factors 
at the society, community, relationship, and individual levels - Deselect a violence type by clicking its dot again
- Clear all selections by clicking reset
To see risk and protective factors that are shared across multiple types of violence:
- Click on multiple dots to select more than one violence type
- Then scroll down to the SEM to view the shared Risk Factors and Protective Factors at the society, community, relationship, and individual levels
- Deselect a violence type by clicking its dot again
- Clear all selections by clicking reset
Understanding Risk and Protective Factors at All Levels
Different types of violence often share risk and protective factors.
Risk Factors make it more likely that people will experience or perpetrate violence.
Protective Factors protect people from violence and decrease the likelihood of it occurring.
The SEM shows the interaction between these factors at individual, relationship, community, and societal levels. It allows us to see what puts people at risk and what protects them from experiencing or engaging in violence.
Working together, it’s necessary to increase shared protective factors and decrease shared risk factors at every level of the SEM to prevent violence in all its forms.
Individual
Risk Factor
Low educational achievement
Risk Factor
Lack of non-violent social problem-solving skills
Risk Factor
Poor behavioral control/ Impulsiveness
Risk Factor
History of violent victimization
Risk Factor
Witnessing violence
Risk Factor
Psychological/ mental health problems
Risk Factor
Substance use
Protective Factor
Skills in solving problems non-violently
Relationship
Risk Factor
Social isolation/ Lack of social support
Risk Factor
Poor parent-child relationships
Risk Factor
Family conflict
Risk Factor
Associating with delinquent peers
Risk Factor
Economic stress
Risk Factor
Gang involvement
Protective Factor
Family support/ connectedness
Protective Factor
Connection to a caring adult
Protective Factor
Association with prosocial peers
Protective Factor
Connection/ commitment to school
At the Relationship Level, there are no risk or protective factors shared between {{relText}}
Community
Risk Factor
Neighborhood poverty
Risk Factor
High alcohol outlet density
Risk Factor
Community violence
Risk Factor
Diminished economic opportunities/high unemployment rates
Risk Factor
Poor neighborhood support and cohesion
Protective Factor
Coordination of resources and services among community agencies
Protective Factor
Access to mental health and substance abuse services
Protective Factor
Community support/ connectedness
At the Community Level, there are no risk or protective factors shared between {{comText}}
Society
Risk Factor
Cultural norms that support aggression toward others
Risk Factor
Media Violence
Risk Factor
Societal income inequity
Risk Factor
Weak health, educational, economic, and social policies/laws
Risk Factor
Harmful norms around masculinity and femininity
At the Society Level, there are no risk or protective factors shared between {{socText}}
RISK FACTOR
At the Individual Level, experiencing Low Educational Achievement is a Risk Factor shared across 6 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At the Individual Level, Lack of Nonviolent Social Problem-Solving Skills is a Risk Factor shared across 8 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At the Individual Level, experiencing Poor Behavioral Control or Impulsivenes is a Risk Factor shared across 6 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At the Individual Level, experiencing a History of Violent Victimization is a Risk Factor shared across 8 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At the Individual Level, Witnessing Violence is a Risk Factor shared across 7 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At the Individual Level, experiencing Psychological or Mental Health Problems is a Risk Factor shared across 6 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At the Individual Level, experiencing Substance Use is a Risk Factor shared across 8 types of violence.
PROTECTIVE FACTOR
At the Individual Level, having Skills in Solving Problems Nonviolently is a shared Protective Factor that can shield against 4 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At the Relationship Level, experiencing Social Isolation or Lack of Social Support is a Risk Factor shared across 7 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At the Relationship Level, experiencing Poor Parent-Child Relationships is a Risk Factor shared across 7 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At the Relationship Level, experiencing Family Conflict is a Risk Factor shared across 6 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At the Relationship Level, Associating with Delinquent Peers is a Risk Factor shared across 5 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At the Relationship Level, experiencing Economic Stress is a Risk Factor shared across 5 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At the Relationship Level, experiencing Gang Involvement is a Risk Factor shared across 4 types of violence.
PROTECTIVE FACTOR
At the Relationship Level, experiencing Family Support and Connectedness is a shared Protective Factor that can shield against 6 types of violence.
PROTECTIVE FACTOR
At the Relationship Level, having a Connection to a Caring Adult is a shared Protective Factor that can shield against 3 types of violence.
PROTECTIVE FACTOR
At the Relationship Level, Associating with Prosocial Peers is a shared Protective Factor that can shield against 3 types of violence.
PROTECTIVE FACTOR
At the Relationship Level, having a Connection or Commitment to School is a shared Protective Factor that can shield against 5 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At the Community Level, experiencing Neighborhood Poverty is a Risk Factor shared across 5 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At the Community Level, experiencing High Alcohol Outlet Density is a Risk Factor shared across 4 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At the Community Level, experiencing Community Violence is a Risk Factor shared across 4 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At the Community Level, experiencing Diminished Economic Opportunities or High Unemployment Rates is a Risk Factor shared across 5 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At the Community Level, experiencing Poor Neighborhood Support and Cohesion is a Risk Factor shared across 5 types of violence.
PROTECTIVE FACTOR
At the Community Level, Coordination of Resources and Services among Community Agencies is a shared Protective Factor that can shield against 4 types of violence.
PROTECTIVE FACTOR
At the Community Level, having Access to Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is a shared Protective Factor that can shield against 2 types of violence.
PROTECTIVE FACTOR
At the Community Level, experiencing Community Support and Connectedness is a shared Protective Factor that can shield against 6 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At a Society Level, Cultural Norms That Support Aggression Toward Others is a Risk Factor shared across 6 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At the Society Level, experiencing Media Violence is a Risk Factor shared across 4 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At the Society Level, experiencing Societal Income Inequity is a Risk Factor shared across 4 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At the Society Level, experiencing Weak Health, Educational, Economic, and Social Policies/Laws is a Risk Factor shared across 4 types of violence.
RISK FACTOR
At the Society Level, Harmful Norms Around Masculinity and Femininity is a Risk Factor shared across 6 types of violence.
