At a time when researchers and practitioners are showing increasing interest in the promotion of healthy behaviors and the development of psychosocial skills, it is important to reflect on the links between theory and practice in this field. Indeed, the use of various models drawn from psychology constitutes a fundamental aspect of professional practices in health prevention and promotion that deserves further development. Furthermore, prevention studies and interventions in the fields of physical and mental health appear to have developed separately and would benefit from being integrated to allow for a more comprehensive understanding of protective factors. The objective of this article is therefore to offer a selective and practice-oriented review of the literature on these issues, based on the theories underpinning internationally validated programs. [author’s abstract]