Child and family factors that ameliorate risk between 4 and 13 years of age.
Protective processes in at-risk children between 4 and 13 years of age were examined in a longitudinal study. A multiple risk index was used at 4 years to identify 50 high-risk children and 102 who were at low risk. Cognitive and social-emotional status were measured at each time point. The following indicators of protective processes were related to positive change in cognitive and/or social-emotional function in the high-risk children between 4 and 13 years: mother-child interaction; child perceived competence, locus of control, life events, and social support; and maternal parenting values, social support, depression, and expressed emotion. Many of these factors were also related to improvement in the low-risk children. Some variables showed an interaction effect, where impact was substantially higher in the high-risk group compared with the low-risk group. The utility of multiple risk constructs and process oriented approaches to protective factors are discussed.
Seifer
R
R
Brown University Program in Medicine, East Providence.
Sameroff
A J
AJ
Baldwin
C P
CP
Baldwin
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008603:Mental Health; D010551:Personality; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support