In the ABC-X Model, what does B stand for?

• A. The family's resources
• B. The event
• C. The meaning attached to the event
• D. The X outcome

Answer: (A)

B stands for the resources the family can draw on when facing a stressor. In this model, the elements work together to shape the outcome: the stressor event (A) sets the challenge in motion, the meaning the family assigns to that event (C) influences how threatening it feels, and the resources available (B)—such as finances, social support, coping skills, and external help—determine how well the family can adapt. When resources are strong or quickly mobilized, the same stressor may be managed without producing a crisis; with limited resources, the stress can overwhelm the family and lead to a crisis (the X outcome). So the best-fitting interpretation is that the resources component provides the buffer or buffer against the stressor, shaping the eventual outcome.