Table VIII.

Causal pathways identified for protective factors around one's social environment including family, peer, and community relationships

Protective factor	Causal pathway	First author
Kinship	Extended family can provide support in the event that the immediate family cannot, sense of connection to others beyond the immediate family.	Bals (2010, 2011b)
	Spending time with family and kin allows for opportunities to learn culture.	Kral (2011)
Close relationship with peers	Allows opportunity for youth to take on adult-like roles and offer support, be dependable, responsible, and responsive to others. Provides a chance to develop awareness of others and to also receive support from peers.	Wexler, Jernigan (2013) Wexler, Joule (2013)
Social Network (Includes relationships with family, peers, and community members)	Relationships and friendships can mediate access to cultural and material assets and thus increase one's capacity (e.g. kin, adopted kin, or friends can provide support resources like a skidoo available to get out on land). These relationships also provide a platform for youth to build/construct their identity and resilience.	Wexler, Jernigan (2013) Wexler, Joule (2013)
Mentorship from older generations	Source of support and guidance in how to handle problems. Provides examples to youth of how to get through difficulties while instilling belief in youth that they can also get through difficulties like their mentors and ancestors.	Wexler, Jernigan (2013)