Appendix :Checklist of Risk and Protective Factors

FACTOR

PROTECTIVE

RISK

Child
Birth Condition
Health

prematurity/ low birth

weight/complications
adequate nutrition

Poor health /chronic illness

/other disabilities

easy

difficult/impulsive/hyperactive

above average

low/ poor verbal abilities

high

low

Social Skills

adequate

poor

Self Esteem/Self Image

positive

negative

Secure & stable/harmony

Absence of warmth &

affection/violence /death of
family member/ Single parent

Close & positive

insecure

Temperament
Cognitive Development
School Achievement

Family
Family stability

Parent-child Attachment
Marital relationship

parental discord/divorce

Parental mental &

physical health

Good maternal mental &

physical health

Mental disorder/substance
abuse/maternal depression,
anxiety or stress

Parental education

high

low

Parental age
Family size

Teenage mothers
small

large

Siblings

>2 years between

siblings, good
relationships

Parenting

Quality care/ strong

family norms & morality

Low parental involvement/

inadequate stimulation/poor
supervision/Child abuse or
neglect

Consistent & positive

Harsh or inconsistent

Social support

Social bonds outside the

family

Social isolation

Family stress

Low/ adequate economic

resources

Criminality / economic
insecurity / inadequate
housing / new immigrants

Parenting strategies

Parenting/FHS/DH

FACTOR

PROTECTIVE

RISK

good

Low attachment

Good relations

Poor relations/ rejection/

bullying

Environment

Positive / cohesive /
nonviolent

Punitive / Inconsistent / poor

supervision & monitoring

Relatedness w/ school

Sense of belonging

Poor attachment

Social networks

Participation in church or
other community group

Low neighbourhood
attachment/isolation from
resources/acculturation
problem

Support services

Access to e.g. transport,

recreational facilities,
community centres, social
resources

Lack of support services

School
Relationship w/ teacher
Peers

Community

References:
1. Zubrick, S. Social determinants of mental health : Measurements & causal
models. Paper presented in International Conference of Child & Adolescent
Mental Health, June 2002.
2. Wolraich, M.L., Felice, M.E. & Drotar, D.(eds) (1996) The Classification of
Child and Adolescent Mental Diagnoses in Primary Care. Illinois :American
Academy of Pediatrics.
Note:
1.
2.
3.

4.

This is a checklist of risk and protective factors for an individuals well

being. It is intended as a general guide to be used in clinical assessment.
It does not involve a scoring system
It can be used as a supplementary guide for Triple P recruitment. For more
exact inclusion & exclusion criteria, refer to the Triple P Recruitment
criteria.
Consideration of protective factors is useful for assessing the prognosis of
the problem.

Parenting/FHS/DH