Table IX.
Causal pathways identified for various protective factors
| Protective factor | Causal pathway | First author |
|---|---|---|
| Regular church attendance | Participation in a community activity, engage in community and family networks, strengthens social ties, and builds strong social support. Also may offer consolation and hope in difficult times. | Kirmayer (1998) |
| High academic achievement | Source of self-esteem, builds problem-solving skills, presents hope for future. | Kirmayer (1996) |
| Awareness, mindfulness, and reciprocity of action | A mechanism in and of itself – individuals who are socialized in this context are more sensitive to the effects of their behaviours on the whole, and draw strength from the whole. | Mohatt (2004) |
| Sense of being treated as special/important | Encourages youth to live up to high standards and be responsible for themselves and others. | Mohatt (2004) |
| Opportunities (in the community, at school, with research project) | Opportunities to be involved with research as co-researchers engages and empowers youth, giving them sense of control and ownership. Praise from adults and elders gives youth pride. Research process offers space to talk to peers, reflect on mental health problems, and learn about oneself. Youth-researcher partnerships also increase egalitarian relations between young people and adults. | Ford (2012) |
| Some activities, such as sport teams, provide incentive to do well in school (e.g. must do well in classes to participate in sport team). | Wexler, Jernigan (2013) | |
| Self-reflection | Often leads to a conscious decision (i.e. to not drink or to drink responsibly) | Allen (2006) |
| Being responsible | Through activities like fixing something, doing homework, watching siblings, raising money for community, or doing chores, youth have a chance to contribute in a meaningful way and gain a sense of purpose and personal well-being. Also demonstrates autonomy and community connectedness. | Wexler, Jernigan (2013) |
| Being useful | Leads to feeling responsible and creates systems of reciprocity and availability to help one another which leads to young people having someone to talk to in difficult times such as times of loss. Reflects Indigenous values. | Wexler, Jernigan (2013) |
| Physical activity | Positively influences self image, family, and peer relationships, and general well-being among youth. | Spein (2013) |
| Sense of belonging in home community | Through a sense of belonging in one's home community youth feel more connected to their culture. | Wexler (2013) |
Note that not all protective factors were linked to a causal pathway.