The diathesis-stress model is helpful to medical researchers and professionals working in the field of mental health, because it explains how the interplay between genetics and environmental stressors (nature and nurture) can cause mental disorders to develop. The model has not been a stationary one either. It has evolved to demonstrate that some predispositions aren’t necessarily genetic at all. For instance, a highly stressful event in childhood can leave someone predisposed to develop a mood or mental disorder later in life when they encounter a particularly stressful event.
The model may also help some practitioners pinpoint who is likely to suffer from a mental disorder and who is not. For instance, when a child suffers from a traumatic event, a counseling intervention may help. Teaching these individuals positive coping strategies for dealing with stress may help them reduce their vulnerability when they encounter stress down the road.