Certified Prevention Professional (CPP) Practice Exam

What term is used for characteristics that lower the likelihood of problem outcomes?

1. Risk Factors

2. Protective Factors

3. Determinants

4. Resilience Factors

The correct answer is: Protective Factors

The term "Protective Factors" refers to characteristics that lower the likelihood of problem outcomes, making it essential for understanding how to promote health and prevent issues in various contexts, such as mental health and substance abuse. These factors can be individual characteristics, situational traits, or social resources that contribute to positive outcomes or mitigate risks. Understanding protective factors is critical for developing effective prevention strategies. When individuals possess such characteristics, they are better equipped to cope with challenges, resist pressures leading to negative behaviors, and foster resilience. This emphasizes the importance of not only identifying risk factors but also enhancing and promoting protective factors within communities and individuals to support their well-being. In contrast, the other terms focus on different aspects of health outcomes. Risk factors are attributes that increase the likelihood of adverse outcomes, determinants refer to underlying influences on health that can include social, economic, and environmental factors, while resilience factors generally pertain to an individual's ability to recover from adversity. Each of these has its own significance within the broader context of health and prevention, yet protective factors specifically highlight the positive attributes that help reduce risk and encourage positive outcomes.