Final answer:
The Vulnerability stress hypothesis implies that mental disorders arise from a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental stressors. It highlights individual susceptibility to developing mental disorders when subjected to stress, with prolonged stress being especially harmful to physical and mental health.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Vulnerability stress hypothesis, also known as the diathesis-stress model, suggests that mental disorders develop due to a combination of genetic vulnerability (diathesis) and environmental stress. Individuals with a predisposition for a particular disorder are more likely to develop the disorder when they experience stress.
Regarding its relationship to mental disorders, the model postulates that while not everyone exposed to stress develops a psychological disorder, those with a biological or psychological vulnerability (diathesis) may be at increased risk when faced with stressors. This theory helps explain why not all individuals exposed to similar stress levels develop mental disorders, suggesting that the development of these disorders results from the complex interactions between stress and individual vulnerability.
Examples of how stress can affect health include its potential to lead to psychophysiological disorders, influence the immune system, exacerbate cardiovascular disorders, induce asthma, and cause tension headaches. Prolonged or repeated stress is particularly damaging, potentially leading to physical depletion and serious health conditions like hypertension and coronary artery disease.