| Summary: | The aim of this study is to examine which risk factors the Swedish governmental organization, Socialstyrelsen, can identify among children and youths that could lead to later deviant or criminal behaviour. The study is based on two written reports made on behalf of Socialstyrelsen. We chose to base our study on these reports since they produce important knowledge to social workers whose work is to identify risk factors and prevent deviant or criminal behaviour among children and youths, which is in line with this study's purpose. Together with previous scientific studies, this study presents seven themes in which risk factors can be found. These themes represent risk factors among and within the individual, friends, family, school and neighborhoods, risk factors related to gender and cumulative risk factors. The results of this study show that risk factors within these different themes are related to each other and that the presence of one risk factor increases the risk of others. Furthermore, the results emphasize that a risk factor for one person does not have to be a risk factor for another person and therefore could be understood as broadly individual. Because of this, it is extremely important that social workers who work with children and youths are aware of this, so that each child’s and youth’s unique situation will be considered regarding risk factors for deviant or criminal behaviour.
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