What is the difference between resilience and risk, and name two protective factors in mental health?

• A. Resilience is a fixed trait; protective factors are external.
• B. Resilience is the absence of adversity; protective factors increase risk.
• C. Resilience is the ability to adapt and recover from adversity; protective factors include supportive relationships and effective coping skills.
• D. Protective factors cause risk.

Answer: (C)

Resilience is the ability to adapt and recover from adversity, while risk is about the likelihood that adversity will lead to negative mental health outcomes. This option captures that resilience reflects how well someone can cope and bounce back, not that it’s a fixed state, and it identifies protective factors that buffer against risk.

Two protective factors shown here—supportive relationships and effective coping skills—help people manage stress and prevent problems. Supportive relationships provide emotional backing, guidance, and practical help that reduce the impact of stress. Effective coping skills, like problem solving, emotion regulation, and seeking help when needed, directly lessen the intensity and duration of distress.

Other statements mischaracterize resilience as fixed or suggest protective factors increase risk, which does not align with how resilience and protection work in mental health.