Do protective factors matter?: examining the impact of cumulative risk and psychological well-being
Date
2025
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Exposure to cumulative risks during childhood and adolescence can have profound and lasting effects on psychological well-being. Fortunately, not all individuals who experience adverse circumstances develop negative outcomes. Protective factors may explain why some individuals flourish and thrive despite adversity. While a vast majority of research has focused on understanding risk factors and cumulative risk, research on protective factors remains understudied. The purpose of the current study is to identify protective factors, specifically clusters that can buffer the effects of cumulative risk. Rutter’s Resilience Theory and Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Theory guide this investigation. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) is used to examine how multiple protective factors can cluster together to influence psychological outcomes. Results indicate that cumulative risk significantly predicts lower psychological well-being, with perceived discrimination providing additional explanatory power. Regression analyses confirmed that cumulative risk significantly predicted reduced psychological well-being (p < .001), yet moderation analyses revealed that certain protective clusters, particularly Class 3, mitigated this impact. These findings emphasize the importance of a strength-based approach. Exploring strengths alongside risks allows for a more comprehensive understanding of how one’s existing protective resources (i.e., including confidence, self-perceived intelligence, self-rated health, life expectancy, religiosity, wealth, social support) promotes resilience and psychological well-being in the future.
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Keywords
Cumulative risk, Discrimination, Latent Class Analysis, Protective factors, Psychological well-being, Wealth