Journal Article

Resilience following Child Maltreatment: A Review of Protective Factors

MacMillan, Harriet L, Afifi, Tracie O

2011

Overview

Objective: Child maltreatment is linked with numerous adverse outcomes that can continue throughout the lifespan. However, variability of impairment has been noted following child maltreatment, making it seem that some people are more resilient. Our review includes a brief discussion of how resilience is measured in child maltreatment research; a summary of the evidence for protective factors associated with resilience based on those studies of highest quality; a discussion of how knowledge of protective factors can be applied to promote resilience among people exposed to child maltreatment; and finally, directions for future research. Method: The databases MEDLINE and PsycINFO were searched for relevant citations up to July 2010 to identify key studies and evidence syntheses. Results: Although comparability across studies is limited, family-level factors of stable family environment and supportive relationships appear to be consistently linked with resilience across studies. There was also evidence for some individual-level factors, such as personality traits, although proxies of intellect were not as strongly related to resilience following child maltreatment. Conclusions: Findings from resilience research needs to be applied to determine effective strategies and specific interventions to promote resilience and foster well-being among maltreated children.

• Publisher: SAGE Publications,Canadian Psychiatric Association,SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subject: Adaptation, Psychological - classification / Behavior Control - methods / Behavior Control - psychology / Behavioral Research / Biological and medical sciences / Child / Child & adolescent psychiatry / Child abuse & neglect / Child Abuse - prevention & control / Child Abuse - psychology / Child Behavior - psychology / Child Rearing - psychology / Child Welfare - psychology / Children & youth / Domestic violence / Emotional Intelligence / Families & family life / Human Characteristics / Humans / Life Change Events / Medical research / Medical sciences / Parent-Child Relations / Personality - classification / Personality Assessment / Psychiatry / Psychology, Child / Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry / Psychopathology. Psychiatry / Resilience, Psychological - classification / Social Support / Studies / Victimology