Risk and protective factors in early child development: empirical results

Author(s): Esser, G., Schmidt, M. H.

Journal/Book: Z Kinder Jugendpsychiat Psych. 1998; 26: Langgass-Strasse 76, CH-3000 Bern 9, Switzerland. Verlag Hans Huber. 6-20.

Abstract: A common result of many studies of children at risk for developmental disorder is the heterogeneity of individual reactions to adversity. One attempt to explain the differential outcome of children at risk lies in the assumption of protective factors. In a prospective study of 362 infants the significance of pre-and perinatal complications (early biological risks) and of adverse family living circumstances (early psychosocial risks) on child development at 41/2 years was examined. Additionally, to study the interplay between risk and protective factors a number of mother-child and family characteristics potentially favourable to early development were assessed. Results indicated that early risk factors made a significant contribution to child development at preschool age. Using multiple risk indices, between 10 and 20% of the variance of the developmental outcome at 41/2 years was explained. Significant predictors of later developmental disorders were neonatal seizures and very low birth weight among the biological risks and low educational level of the parents, early parenthood and unwanted pregnancy among the psychosocial risks. The contribution of early protective factors to developmental outcome, however, was only limited. The high overlap with risk factors, the low specific predictive power and the lack of a moderator effect question the theoretical usefulness of a global concept of protective factors. However, when interactions between specific risk and protective factors were studied, there was evidence of a buffer effect of a successful early mother child interaction.

Note: Article Laucht M, Klin Psychiat & Psychotherapie Kindes & Jugendalt, Zent Inst Seel Gesundheit, Postfach 122120, D-68072 Mannheim, GERMANY

Keyword(s): risk factors; protective factors; childhood development; preschool; LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT; PSYCHOPATHOLOGY; RESILIENCE; COMPETENCE; MANNHEIM; DISORDER; INFANTS; SYSTEM; FACE; AGE

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