title: Risk and protective factors in early child development: Results from the All Our Babies (AOB) pregnancy cohort.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Understanding factors that protect against early developmental delay among children who are experiencing adversity can inform prevention and early intervention strategies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify risk factors for development delay at one year and protective factors for developmental delay in 'at risk' environments (poor maternal mental health and socio-demographic risk).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was analyzed from 3360 mother-child dyads who participated in the All Our Babies (AOB) pregnancy cohort. Participants completed four questionnaires spanning pregnancy to one year postpartum and provided access to medical records. Risk factors for developmental delay at age one were identified using bivariate methods and multivariable modeling. Protective factors for child development in 'at risk' family environments were identified using bivariate analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At one year, 17% of children were developmentally delayed, defined as scoring in the monitoring zone on at least 2 of the 5 developmental domains of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire. Prenatal depression, preterm birth, low community engagement, and non-daily parent-child interaction increased the risk of delay. Protective factors for children in 'at risk' environments included relationship happiness, parenting self-efficacy, community engagement, higher social support, and daily parent-child interaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study results suggest that maternal and infant outcomes would be improved, even for vulnerable women, through identification and intervention to address poor mental health and through normalizing engagement with low cost, accessible community resources that can also support parent-child interaction.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Child Development Centre, #389 3820 24th Ave NW, Calgary, Alberta T3B 2X9, Canada. Electronic address: SheilaW.McDonald@albertahealthservices.ca.
authors: Sheila
authors: S
authors: McDonald
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Child Development Centre, #389 3820 24th Ave NW, Calgary, Alberta T3B 2X9, Canada.
authors: Heather
authors: H
authors: Kehler
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Child Development Centre, #389 3820 24th Ave NW, Calgary, Alberta T3B 2X9, Canada.
authors: Hamideh
authors: H
authors: Bayrampour
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Child Development Centre, #389 3820 24th Ave NW, Calgary, Alberta T3B 2X9, Canada.
authors: Nonie
authors: N
authors: Fraser-Lee
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Child Development Centre, #389 3820 24th Ave NW, Calgary, Alberta T3B 2X9, Canada; Department of Community Health Science, University of Calgary, Child Development Centre, #389 3820 24th Ave NW, Calgary, Alberta T3B 2X9, Canada.
authors: Suzanne
authors: S
authors: Tough
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002657:Child Development; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010988:Play and Playthings; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D065840:Protective Factors; D011932:Reading; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Child development; Developmental delay; Maternal mental health; Resiliency; Risk and protective factors