In the context of diagnosing psychological disorders, which of the following individuals is most at risk for experiencing abuse?

• A. A child living in a household with a history of domestic violence and parental substance abuse
• B. An elderly person living independently with regular family visits
• C. An adult with a stable job and strong social support network
• D. A teenager who participates in extracurricular activities and reports positive relationships with peers

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the context of the problem, which is identifying risk factors for experiencing abuse in psychological diagnosis.
2. Step 2: Recognize that abuse risk is often higher in environments with instability, such as households with domestic violence and substance abuse, because these factors create unsafe and harmful conditions.
3. Step 3: Compare the given options by evaluating the presence or absence of risk factors like family violence, substance abuse, social support, and stability.
4. Step 4: Note that a child living in a household with a history of domestic violence and parental substance abuse is exposed to multiple risk factors that increase the likelihood of abuse.
5. Step 5: Conclude that among the options, the individual most at risk is the child in the unstable household, as the other individuals have protective factors such as independence, social support, and positive relationships.