A Promising Start, a Better Future? The Relation between Cumulative Risk and Promotive Factors in Early Childhood and Psychosocial Functioning in Grade 2.

Abstract

The present study examined the applicability of the cumulative risk hypothesis to current childcare practices using data on a range of proximal risk and promotive factors present in children’s lives until age four, collected as part of regular childcare in Utrecht (n = 7282). In grade 2, parents reported on children’s psychosocial functioning using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results showed that more risks present in children’s lives predicted worse reported psychosocial functioning. More promotive factors yielded better reported psychosocial functioning, however, promotive factors were poorly registered. Importantly, little variance in psychosocial functioning scores was explained by the assessment of risk and promotive factors. Further, this study examined whether neighbourhood risk would amplify the effect of proximal cumulative risk on psychosocial functioning. No support was found for the moderating effect of neighbourhood social cohesion, income and crime rate on the relation between cumulative risk and psychosocial functioning. Findings of this study suggest that total amount of risk could be used as extra indicator of risk in children. Moreover, the validity of current risk assessment measures might be re-evaluated, and promotive factors should be registered more often to increase the accuracy of risk assessment in childcare practice.