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Risk & Protective Factors

Research recognizes a number of risk & protective factors commonly associated with maltreatment.

Risk Factors - Children in families and environments where these factors exist have a higher probability of experiencing maltreatment. A greater understanding of risk factors can help professionals working with children and families identify maltreatment and high-risk situations so they can intervene appropriately. It must be emphasized, however, that while certain factors often are present among families where maltreatment occurs, this does not mean that the presence of these factors will always result in child abuse and neglect.

Factors associated with increased risk of child maltreatment are often grouped according to the following categories:

• Parent or caregiver factors
• Family factors
• Child factors
• Environmental factors
• Risk factors by type of abuse
• Substance Abuse

Articles:

• How Children Are Involved in Adult Domestic Violence
  Click Here to Download
  
• The Science and Psychology of Infant-Toddler Care: How an Understanding of Early Learning Has Transformed Child Care
  Click Here to Download
• Domino Effect: Domestic Violence Harms All Children (Summer, 2009)
  Click Here to Download
  
• Child Abuse Linked to Migraines
  Click Here to Download
• Challenges for Mothers with HIV
  Click Here to Download
  Community Violence and Youth: Affect, Behavior, Substance Abuse & Academics
  Click Here to Download

Protective factors are conditions in families and communities that, when present, increase the health and well-being of children and families. These attributes serve as buffers, helping parents to find resources, supports, or coping strategies that allow them to parent effectively, even under stress.

Research has shown that the following protective factors are linked to a lower incidence of child abuse and neglect:

• Nurturing and attachment
• Knowledge of parenting and of child and youth development
• Parental resilience
• Social connections
• Concrete support for parents
• Engaging non-resident Fathers
• Guidelines for Managing Child Abuse & Neglect Cases at Stanford Univ. Hospital

For more information on risk and protective factors, please visit the Child Welfare Information Gateway or download this file on Strengthening Families.