_____ seek to consistently maintain your physical, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions.

• A. Coping strategies
• B. Risk factors
• C. Protective factors
• D. Wellness habits

Answer: (C)

Protective factors are the supports and resources that help you stay well across different areas of life and build resilience against stress. When these factors are in place—such as supportive relationships, effective coping skills, positive beliefs, and healthy lifestyle choices—they help you consistently maintain physical health, regulate emotions, maintain social connections, and engage in meaningful or spiritual practices. That proactive network of supports buffers you from harm and supports well-being across multiple domains, which is why it’s the best fit for the statement.

Coping strategies are tools you use in response to stress, which are important but describe actions in the moment rather than the ongoing supports that keep you balanced. Risk factors are elements that raise the chance of negative outcomes, not aids to maintenance. Wellness habits are healthy routines, which contribute to well-being but the term protective factors emphasizes the outward supports and resources that actively sustain and protect across dimensions.