What are the potential protective factors against mental health problems?

Best practice guidelines for mental health promotion programs: Children & Youth

Many potential protective factors can buffer a person against mental health problems. Current evidence indicates that these factors are associated with positive mental health outcomes. However, the level of evidence varies, and no causal relationship can be assumed for these factors. According to Australia’s CDHAC, “[f]or some individuals, there will be no impact of any particular factor or combination of factors, while for other people a particular factor or combination of factors may be very protective of their mental health” (2000, p. 14). As with potential risk factors, some of these factors are specific to particular stages of the lifespan (especially childhood) while others (e.g., socio-economic disadvantage) have an impact across the lifespan.

On this page:

• Individual
• Family
• School
• Life events and situations
• Community and culture

Individual

• easy temperament
• adequate nutrition
• attachment to family
• above-average intelligence
• school achievement
• problem-solving skills
• internal locus of control
• social competence
• social skills
• good coping style
• optimism
• sense of purpose
• moral beliefs
• positive values
• positive self-related cognitions
• religious affiliation
• history of competence and success

Family

• supportive, caring parents
• family harmony
• secure and stable family
• small family
• responsibility within the family
• more than two years between siblings
• supportive relationships with an adult (for a child or adult)
• strong family norms, morality

School

• sense of belonging
• positive school climate
• prosocial peer group
• required responsibility and helpfulness
• opportunities for some success and recognition of achievement
• social norms against violence

Life events and situations

• involvement with significant other
• availability of opportunities at critical turning points or major life transitions
• economic security
• good physical health

Community and culture

• sense of connectedness
• attachment to, and networks within, the community
• participation in church or other community group
• strong cultural identity and ethnic pride
• access to support services
• community cultural norms against violence

Reference

Adapted from Department of Health and Aged Care. (2000). Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health—A Monograph. Canberra, Australia: Author.

 

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