Which of the following are two protective factors particularly important for adolescents?

• A. Supportive friendships/peer relationships and supportive family or school connectedness.
• B. Access to extracurricular activities only.
• C. High parental control.
• D. Advanced academic pressure.

Answer: (A)

Protective factors that help adolescents cope with challenges and bounce back from stress include strong social support and a sense of belonging. When teens have supportive friendships and positive peer relationships, they have trusted people to talk to, seek advice from, and lean on during tough times. This kind of emotional backing and guidance reduces the likelihood of turning to risky behaviors and helps with healthy decision-making.

At the same time, feeling connected to family or school provides a stable, caring environment with clear expectations and supportive adults who monitor, encourage, and model positive ways of handling problems. This sense of belonging strengthens self-esteem and resilience, giving adolescents a framework to navigate pressures and setbacks.

Together, these factors buffer against stress and risk by offering emotional support, guidance, monitoring, and positive models of behavior. They address both the influence of peers and the stability of adults in the teen’s life, which is why they’re especially protective during adolescence.

Extracurricular activities can be beneficial, but they’re not the same two-factor combination; high parental control may limit autonomy and isn’t consistently protective, and intense academic pressure is more of a stressor than a protective factor.