Risk and Protective Factors

Biological Protective factors

1. Temperament 2. Physical Health 3. Genes

Biological Risk Factors

1. Chronic illness 2. Genetic abnormalities 3. TBI 4. Premature birth 5. Mental Disorders 6. Temperament

Temperament

1. Biologically based personality trait -3 types: 1. Easy 2. Difficult = fussy, hard to soothe, instability in mood, proclivity towards irritability, rigidity, over-sensitive 3. Slow to warm = shy, inhibited, reticent, more prone to anxiety

Parental Risk Factors

1. Goodness of fit 2. Mental Disorders 3. Abuse/maltreatment -- more vulnerable to victimization in other situations, contexts, develop world view that is constructed around idea that people are threatening, hostile and develop coping styles out of this schema/working model 4. poor coping strategies 5. insecure attachments 6. Single parents, young parents 7. Parental conflict 8. Trauma 9. foster care 10. Family Violence 11. death of a parent

Goodness of Fit

1. Parenting style matches up with child's temperament, able to effectively respond according to child's needs 2. If parent has good working model and difficult child, still likely a good outcome.

Parental Protective Factors

1. Secure attachment with their child 2. Teaching and modeling good behavior 3. Authoritative parenting style 4. Stable marital relationship 5. Structure, routine in the home 6. Consistent parental employment 7. Adequate financial resources 8. Ability to promote self-esteem and cultural values

External Protective factors

1. quality of school and teachers at the school 2. Adequate housing, safe neighborhood 3. Lack of discrimination

External Risk Factors

1. toxins 2. SES 3. Discrimination

Protective Factor Definition

Anything that will buffer the risk, threat; something that is a support to the child, an aid to help cope, reduce stress, provide opportunities for growth

Protective Factors

Biology Parental Factors External Factors

Resiliance

Resilience can be innate or environmental. It often involves an internal sense of control. Those children who are resilient often have secure attachments, with responsive parents

Risk Factor Definition

Something that impinges on the child and increases their stress, reduces ability to cope or opportunities for growth