Final answer:
The idea that religious participation may dissuade adolescents from engaging in risk behavior refers to a protective factor, as it provides a framework of community and values that discourage risky activities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The idea that religious participation may make it less likely that an adolescent takes part in risk behavior best refers to a protective factor. A protective factor is something that increases an individual's ability to avoid risks or negative outcomes. In the context of adolescent development, engagement in religious activities is thought to provide youth with a framework of values and community support which may discourage participation in risky behavior. This can be seen as part of socialization by religion, where important life stages and roles are often connected to religious celebrations and practices, thus offering a sense of identity and belonging that reinforces positive behaviors.
Religious involvement may act as a form of social control, as described in Travis Hirschi's control theory, where the bonding, commitment, involvement, and belief in communal values can deter individuals from straying towards delinquency. Studies have demonstrated that adolescents who are actively engaged with their religious communities and whose parents monitor their activities are less likely to partake in risky behaviors such as heavy drinking and risky sexual behavior.