Risk and Protective Factors among Preschool Children: Integrating Research and Practice

In this article the authors present a review of previous reviews and meta-analyses, identifying and summarizing the empirical research base on risk and protective factors for future psychosocial problems-specifically externalizing and internalizing problems-among preschool children. The authors also discuss risk and protective factors in the framework of concepts such as evidence-based practice, risk-focused prevention and treatment, and the Risk, Need, and Responsivity principles. They conclude that there is an extensive amount of research on risk and protective factors for preschool children that could and should be used by well educated professionals to help children to a better life.