Risk and protective factors

Early childhood development occurs within the context of multiple environments, with a vast range of factors in these environments exerting influence on different aspects of a child’s development.

As proposed by Bronfenbrenner, the ecological perspective is concerned with the characteristics of the multiple environments in which a child develops, and how these shape different aspects of his/her development. Characteristics that increase the probability that a problem will be formed, maintained or exacerbated are called risk factors; characteristics that appear to moderate and/or minimise the impact of risk are called protective factors. Research shows that some children develop along ‘normal’ trajectories despite the presence of risk factors; this capacity to achieve developmental milestones and avoid disorder in the context of adversity is called resilience.

Evidence Report

Early childhood development occurs within the context of multiple environments, with a vast range of factors in these environments exerting influence on different aspects of a child’s development. This Evidence Report discusses the potential for the characteristics of these environments to increase the risk of a young child experiencing poor developmental outcomes or, alternatively, to enable protection from the impact of adversity. An Ecological Model of Child Development is outlined, and the key factors influencing development in a child’s immediate contexts are summarised, including: the prenatal environment, the family and home environment, and early childhood education and care.

Read this Evidence Report for an in-depth look at risk and protective factors in early childhood.

Risk and protective factors

Research Snapshot

Children grow up surrounded by people and living in environments that shape their development. Right from conception, factors in a child’s immediate environment such as their family and home and the early education and care they receive influence their emotional, social, physical and mental health.

Read this Research Snapshot for a quick look at understanding risk and protective factors in early childhood.

Risk and protective factors

News & Events

Daniel Christensen, The Kids Research Institute Australia Life Course Centre research fellow

First words: identifying risks to language development

News Article

Language is a uniquely human ability that helps us to learn from other’s experience and is the foundation for so much of what happens in life.

That is why falling behind in language development can prove to be a substantial disadvantage that affects a child’s ability to thrive at school, form relationships and get a job.

Daniel Christensen, The Kids Research Institute Australia Life Course Centre research fellow, says there is rapid change in a child’s brain in the first few years of life, making their home environment and relationship with carers incredibly important.

“Language development is the result of quite complex interactions between the child, their family, their school and the community and that all takes place in a broader social and cultural context,” Mr Christensen said.

Researchers at The Kids are contributing to a growing body of research that has identified a number of beneficial factors and risks to language development from birth.

InFocus Research Profile

Megan Bell, The Kids Research Institute Australia

The Western Australian Child Development Atlas

Interview

What did this project aim to find out?

The Western Australian Child Development Atlas (CDA) uses geographic information system technology to develop maps of government administrative and survey data related to children and young people in communities throughout the state.

Comprehensive health, development, and social profiles will be developed by combining data sets from Human Service Departments. These data will be overlayed with details of services provided to children and families.

The aim of the project is to provide agencies, researchers, service providers, and communities with easy access to up-to-date, quality location-based data, from multiple sources. These data will be mapped across the whole state, to provide a visual summary of area-level indicators of children’s health, learning, development and social characteristics, and how these characteristics differ across communities.

This information can help to identify areas of high need, prompting investigations into whether services available in those areas are adequate to meet community needs.