Examining the developmental trajectories of individual, peer, family, community, and school-related protective factors across school transitions provides a relevant context for understanding the social transitions as well as normative developmental changes adolescents experience during this time. Furthermore, as gender identity becomes more pronounced during adolescence (Galambos et al., 2009 and Hill and Lynch, 1983), exploring possible gender differences in the development of protective factors is important. Bussey and Bandura's (1999) social cognitive theory of gender development suggests that complex social subsystems as well as cognitive processes influence gender development. They argue that boys and girls encounter different kinds of modeling and receive different feedback from their peers, families, and teachers based on their gender during their development.