What term describes conditions that help buffer against negative effects like substance abuse?

The term that describes conditions that help buffer against negative effects such as substance abuse is "protective factors." Protective factors are characteristics or conditions that reduce the likelihood of an individual engaging in risky behaviors and promote positive outcomes. These can include strong family support, effective communication skills, a healthy school environment, and community resources.

In the context of substance abuse, protective factors play a critical role in helping individuals resist the temptation to engage in such behaviors. For example, individuals who have supportive social networks and access to positive role models are less likely to develop issues with substance abuse.

While the other terms mentioned might encompass some of these qualities, they do not specifically convey the idea of mitigating risk in the same way. Support factors could refer more broadly to any supportive aspect, whether it's social, emotional, or psychological, without necessarily highlighting their role in providing a buffer against negative outcomes. Universal factors might describe broader themes that apply to everyone but do not specifically denote the supportive elements that prevent substance abuse. Resilient factors suggest personal strengths that contribute to an individual’s ability to cope with challenges, but again, this is not as focused on the environmental and contextual conditions that protective factors denote.