Risk, Protective Factors, and the Prevalence of Behavioral and Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents

The influence of various risk and protective factors on the presence of one or more behavioral or emotional disorders in 3,294 children and adolescents between the ages of 4 and 16 is examined using data from the Ontario Child Health Study conducted in 1983. Multivariate analyses showed that family problems and parental problems heightened the risk for disorder, whereas being a good student, getting along with others, and participation activities reduced the risk of disorder. Some interaction effects between various factors are also reported. The models generated are compared with others reported in the literature. Future research and social policy implications are discussed.