Protective Factors
If you are reading this, you probably have lived experience with domestic violence and want to learn about how researchers are trying to tackle the issue. You may be worried about yourself, your child, or another child you love. Either way, you are in the right place. Below is a brief overview of academic evidence on adverse childhood experiences and protective factors. On all of our pages, you can click on the graphics to get further information from our sources.
Have you Heard of ACEs and Protective Factors?
ACE
Adverse Childhood Experiences
describe a wide variety of stressful events, from food insecurity to the death of a parent.
Protective Factors
Protective factors are things that help reduce the negative impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences. These include things like social support and positive self-esteem.
When Your Child Experiences ACEs
All kids go through stressful events, and not all stress is harmful so long as the child has the resources and support to work through stressful events. But when kids experience too many ACEs or severe ACEs, they are at risk of poor mental health, poor physical health, and negative behavioural outcomes.
Helping to Promote Protective Factors
When your child experiences ACEs, you may feel powerless, but you are not. You can help your child by promoting protective factors. There are a lot of protective factors that parents cannot control, but there are some you can influence, such as:
Positive parental contact, like a parent’s involvement in a child’s activities.
Providing an emotionally warm, stable, predictable environment for the child.
Social support from family and friends for both the child and the parents are important.
A positive, caring relationship with an adult outside of the family (teacher, coach, etc.)
Investment in schooling and time spent at school is important for children.
After school activities and involvement in sport.
All Children go Through Stress, but Some More Than Others
Do you want to get involved?