Child maltreatment refers to the physical, emotional or sexual abuse and neglect of a child. In the UK, over 50,000 children have been identified as needing protection from abuse, a figure that is likely an underestimate. Abused children are at risk of severe health and social problems in later life, including depression and anxiety, substance misuse, unintended pregnancy, delinquency and crime and future perpetration of violence. Beyond this, child abuse has significant economic costs from medical treatment and long-term productivity losses. It is therefore a serious public health concern.

Despite these negative consequences, growing research has shown that some children achieve good developmental outcomes, suggesting that protective factors exist which moderate an individual’s reaction to stress and make them more resilient to abuse. Resilience is a developmental process involving the attainment of positive adaptation in the context of adversity (Cicchetti, 2010). Whilst various studies have identified factors promoting resilience, there are very few studies within the UK population, particularly relating to positive outcomes in adolescence.

Using mother-child data from the ALSPAC database, this study aims to identify the protective factors in the child, family and environment that enable maltreated children to develop good outcomes (high self-esteem and wellbeing scores) in adolescence. A better understanding of these protective factors and their interactions can help shape policy and focus interventions to reduce the negative impact of abuse and promote resilience in a greater number of vulnerable children.

References
Ciccetti, D. 2010. Resilience under conditions of extreme stress: a multilevel perspective. World Psychiatry, 9(3): 145–154