Protective factors can be defined as specific attributes or situations that are necessary for the pro- cess of resilience to occur (Dyer & McGuinness, 1996). Many resilience researchers have compiled lists of pro- tective factors from their studies (see Table 1). Rutter (1987), however, was quick to caution the meaningful- ness of these factors. While he acknowledged that the presence of protective factors is important in that they are “robust predictors” of resilience, he posed that it is the protective processes that are of greater value in determining approaches to enhancing resilience and thereby preventing negative outcomes (Rutter, 1987,
1993).