ABSTRACT
Vulnerability implies that a particular child or group of children who are at risk in a probabilistic sense for manifesting a certain behavior or set of behaviors are susceptible to decrements in well-being. Many different approaches have been taken to measure the well-being of children, each of which has some value depending on the level of analysis, the age range of interest, the scientific discipline undertaking the study, and the context in which individuals are studied. Emotional functioning, emotional self-regulation, psychopathology, behavior problems, and self-esteem are all measures of emotional wellbeing. Social well-being focuses on relationships with others, the social support received by others, and perceptions of embeddedness in groups. Children are screened in order to divide them into two categories — at risk and not at risk for a particular developmental delay or decrement in well-being. Diagnostic instruments explore the existence and extent of developmental delay in children suspected of being at risk.
