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Table 2 Putative risk and protective factors

From: A public health approach to understanding and preventing violent radicalization

Factor

Description

Risk factors

Young people facing transitions: education, place, family, religion and so on

 

Cognitive and social openings to new influences

 

Social isolation and exclusion

 

Grievances about discrimination that may be personal, related to unfair treatment at work, access to health care or about other inequalities in society

 

Unemployment

 

Migrant status and experiences before and after immigration

 

International conflict that is considered unjust against a group with which individual identifies on religious, national or cultural grounds

 

Perceived threat to family and cultural group

 

Marginalized and traditional cultural identities

 

Discrimination thought to explain group inequalities in health and social status and access to wealth

 

Not able to negotiate needs and protest through non-violent and democratic means

 

Contact with influential or charismatic leaders who justify terrorism (for example, in prisons, or in schools or universities)

Protective factors

Social support

 

Social cohesion

 

Social capital and trust in institutions

 

Feeling of safety and security in neighborhood

 

Integrated cultural identity

 

Employment success

 

Access to democratic means for negotiating needs and opinions

 

Access to critical religious leadership that can moderate and inform on legitimate religious perspectives