Final answer:
The biopsychosocial model is the most commonly used model for understanding the wellness-illness continuum, highlighting the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors in determining health.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most commonly used model that assists in the understanding of the patient's place on the wellness-illness continuum is the biopsychosocial model. This framework suggests that health or illness is determined by the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors. It is a multifaceted approach to health, acknowledging that the experience of wellness or illness is not solely determined by biological factors, but also by an individual's mental state and social environment.
Furthermore, understanding health and illness involves several perspectives including functionalism, which focuses on how illness disrupts societal roles and the need for social control to manage this disruption. The conflict perspective critiques the power dynamics involved in the medicalization of society, questioning the authority of doctors in defining what constitutes sickness.