Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

What model describes how pre-existing vulnerabilities interact with stressful life events to cause illness?

1. Stress-diathesis model

2. Transactional model of stress

3. Cognitive behavioral model

4. Biopsychosocial model

The correct answer is: Stress-diathesis model

The stress-diathesis model is a theoretical framework that explains how an individual's vulnerability to a particular mental health condition can interact with stressors in their life to produce illness. It posits that pre-existing vulnerabilities, which could be genetic, biological, or psychological in nature, set a predisposition for developing a disorder. When these vulnerabilities are faced with significant stressors, such as life events or environmental challenges, the likelihood of illness increases. The model is particularly useful in understanding mental health disorders, as it emphasizes the importance of both nature (the predisposition) and nurture (the environment and life experiences). It provides a nuanced view of how resilience and risk factors contribute to a person’s mental well-being, highlighting that not everyone exposed to similar stressors will develop the same level of illness if they have varying degrees of underlying vulnerabilities. In contrast, other models such as the transactional model of stress focus on the dynamic interplay between an individual and their environment but do not emphasize pre-existing vulnerabilities in the same way. The cognitive-behavioral model centers on the interrelationship between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors rather than biological vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, the biopsychosocial model takes a broader approach by integrating biological, psychological, and social factors but does not specifically address