Which model assists in understanding interacting risk and protective factors across multiple levels?

The Social-Ecological Model (SEM) is the appropriate choice for understanding interacting risk and protective factors across multiple levels. This model emphasizes the complex interplay between individual, relationship, community, and societal factors that influence human behavior. By recognizing that behavior is affected by a variety of contextual factors, the SEM helps to identify how different levels of influence can work together or against each other in shaping outcomes.

For instance, it looks at how personal characteristics (like age and education) interact with social relationships (like family and peer influences), community settings (like schools or workplaces), and broader societal structures (like cultural norms and laws). This assists practitioners, policymakers, and leaders in designing more effective interventions by tailoring approaches to address specific factors at various levels, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the issue at hand.

In contrast, the other models focus more narrowly on specific aspects of behavior or organizational phenomena rather than offering a holistic examination of the diverse, interconnected influences that shape individuals’ or groups' experiences and outcomes.