Title: child mental health | Definition, Risk Factors, & Child Development | Britannica
Headings: Child mental health
Child mental health
Protective and risk factors
Prevalence and impact
Prevention and intervention
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Child mental health

Content: Protective factors are child and environmental characteristics that enhance positive mental health outcomes by protecting children and reducing the negative effects created by risk factors. Protective factors can be characterized as child, family, and community strengths that contribute to resilience. Child strengths can include healthy physical status, intelligence, and a relaxed temperament. Family strengths are those characteristic of a cohesive and supportive family (e.g., nurturing parenting style, supervision, socioeconomic advantage). Community strengths can encompass safe schools and participation in recreational activities. The impact of risk factors often leads to poor mental health outcomes in children. The presence of multiple risk factors increases a child’s vulnerability to experiencing a problem. Risks may stem from premature birth and low birth weight, poor physical health, ethnicity, peer and family relationships, parental mental health status (especially the mother’s), parental abuse of alcohol or drugs, and family violence. Many experts cite socioeconomic status (i.e., parental education or income) as a strong predictor of psychological well-being. In addition, particularly vulnerable groups of children are those who have been physically or sexually abused, those in foster care, and child refugees.