Which of the following statements about the prevalence of psychopathology is TRUE?

• A. Men are diagnosed with psychological disorders at much higher rates than women for all types of disorders.
• B. Psychological disorders are extremely rare and affect less than 1% of the population.
• C. A significant proportion of people will experience a psychological disorder at some point in their lives.
• D. Most psychological disorders are limited to childhood and rarely persist into adulthood.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the term 'prevalence of psychopathology,' which refers to how common psychological disorders are within a population over a specific period or lifetime.
2. Step 2: Evaluate each statement by considering epidemiological research findings on psychological disorders, focusing on gender differences, overall prevalence rates, and age-related patterns.
3. Step 3: Recognize that men are not diagnosed at much higher rates than women for all disorders; some disorders are more common in women, such as depression and anxiety.
4. Step 4: Note that psychological disorders are not extremely rare; research shows that a significant portion of the population experiences some form of psychological disorder during their lifetime.
5. Step 5: Understand that many psychological disorders can persist beyond childhood and are not limited to early life stages, meaning they often continue or recur into adulthood.