Understanding the Influence of Community-Level Determinants on Children’s Social and Emotional Well-Being: A Systems Science and Participatory Approach

Abstract

Healthy social and emotional development and longer-term outcomes for children are shaped by factors across the multiple levels (micro, meso, exo, macro) of a child’s environment. By employing a novel systems science and participatory approach, we were able to co-produce a series of causal loop diagrams that detail the complex relationships between variables operating at the community or neighborhood environment level (e.g., features of the built environment such as: housing type, access, availability, and location; parks and greenspace, facilities such as community services, and other service infrastructure such as transit), and highlight the individual and collective impacts these relationships can have on the subsystem surrounding a child’s social and emotional well-being. Our approach provides a unique lens of knowledge through which communities can identify key leverage points for action and (re)design of community spaces, practices, and policy.

Using systems-mapping to address Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma: A qualitative study of stakeholder experiences

“…Third, there has been a call for systems-thinking projects to provide evidence of “real-world” benefits [ 58 ]. Systems-mapping projects pertaining to trauma and ACEs often do not report on the next steps, i.e., the programs and initiatives that come out of the project [ 26 , 27 , 29 ]. Participants in our study felt that diverse representation and inclusion in the SMP created community investment in the process and outcomes of the effort to foster tangible, coordinated, and community-led actions addressing ACEs.…”

“…Systems thinking, specifically systems mapping, has provided direction and novel insights for actions taken by community organizations and researchers [ 22 , 23 ] and have also significantly influenced program implementation and resource allocation of state-level and county-level health initiatives [ 24 , 25 ]. In particular to ACEs, however, systems thinking has mainly been used to identify potential leverage points for interventions [ 26 , 27 ]. For example, causal loop diagrams have been developed by researchers to understand how community programs, social services, and the built environment interact to promote social and emotional well-being in children [ 26 ] as well as how parental opioid use can be predictors of child maltreatment and children’s’ maladaptive coping behaviors, thereby perpetuating the cycle of ACEs [ 27 ].…”

“…In particular to ACEs, however, systems thinking has mainly been used to identify potential leverage points for interventions [ 26 , 27 ]. For example, causal loop diagrams have been developed by researchers to understand how community programs, social services, and the built environment interact to promote social and emotional well-being in children [ 26 ] as well as how parental opioid use can be predictors of child maltreatment and children’s’ maladaptive coping behaviors, thereby perpetuating the cycle of ACEs [ 27 ].…”