Protective factors are conditions, characteristics or behaviours that increase the probability of good health and well-being, minimize effects of stressful life events, increase an individual’s ability to avoid hazards and promote social and emotional competence.  

Adolescent health and well-being can be improved by enhancing protective factors that build agency and resilience and that promote other dimensions of positive health and well-being. 

Evidence is growing of the role of protective factors at individual, family and societal levels on adolescents’ health and well-being. For the adolescent well-being framework, see section 1.1.