research in practice

Although there is a significant amount of literature around family risk and protective factors, the reasons for some families thriving and others struggling are unclear. This is partly due to the lack of synthesis of the main risk and protective factors that influence family outcomes. Resilience does not develop through the avoidance of problems, but through effective use of protective factors to cope with adverse events. The review focuses on protective factors for two reasons: 1) there is a greater diversity and complexity of family relationships due to increased divorce rates and single-parent households; 2) policy-makers have placed significant emphasis on the fact that promotion, prevention and early intervention are more cost-effective than treating families already in crisis. By pulling together protective factors into a systematic review, the authors hope to inform the development of holistic interventions to improve outcomes for children and families.

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