A Systematic Review of Protective and Promotive Factors for Social and Behavioral Problems In Children Under 11: Preventing Intimate Partner Violence with Early Intervention

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive public health concern with risk factors traceable to social and behavioral problems in early childhood. While risk factors for IPV have been extensively studied, less is known about protective and promotive factors that prevent the development of early behavioral challenges. Understanding these factors across the earliest years of social, emotional, and behavioral development (ages 0-11) is critical to interrupt pathways leading to IPV in adolescence and adulthood. Guided by Erikson’s psychosocial development model and a developmental risk and resilience framework, this systematic review synthesized empirical evidence on protective factors mitigating social and behavioral problems in early and middle childhood as one of several reviews included in the PROTECT-IPV Project.

Method: Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search of ten databases conducted for studies published between 2003 and 2025 yielded 2,538 articles. Inclusion criteria required peer-reviewed empirical studies examining protective or promotive factors associated with social or behavioral outcomes among youth published in English, resulting in 115 studies across all age ranges. The authors then parsed the review sample by developmental stage, with the current review resulting in thirteen studies meeting inclusion criteria focused on children under age 11. Studies were excluded if the social or behavioral problems were caused by physiological or congenital reasons (e.g., autism). Data were extracted and synthesized using content analysis. Study quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).

Results: Protective factors were identified across three ecological levels. At the individual level, social-emotional factors (e.g., social skills, empathy), personality traits, and behavioral regulation (e.g., emotional regulation, self-control) were consistently associated with reduced social and behavioral problems. At the relational level, family cohesion, maternal warmth, grandparent support, and peer acceptance buffered the effects of stressors such as adult partner aggression, family conflict, and substance abuse exposure. At the environmental level, neighborhood social cohesion reduced the negative impact of parental IPV on child outcomes. Across studies, protective mechanisms operated through mediating and moderating pathways, highlighting their role in both compensating for and buffering against risk. However, the literature demonstrated limited attention to minoritized identities; few studies examined gender, and none assessed race or ethnicity in relation to protective processes. MMAT results indicated that included studies had 60-100% of quality criteria met, demonstrating moderate to high methodological quality.

Conclusion/Implications: Findings underscore the importance of multi-level protective mechanisms in reducing social and behavioral problems, supporting theoretical emphasis on early social competence and relationships as foundations for later psychosocial development. Implications for practice include promoting social-emotional learning, strengthening parental warmth and family cohesion, and fostering neighborhood connectedness to support resilience. The lack of attention to race, ethnicity, and gender highlights a critical gap and the need for intersectional, culturally responsive research. By identifying protective pathways in early childhood, this study highlights developmental leverage points aimed at preventing later IPV by strengthening early protective processes.