[Psychosocial factors and adaptation mechanisms in stressful events]

The relationship between life events and the presence of mental disease has received a considerable attention. In this association plays an important role the individual vulnerability, that reflects personal factors that predispose to the development of psychopathology. Hereditary, psychological, social and cultural components have been included in the broad concept of vulnerability. Recently the coping behaviour has also been evaluated from this point of view. It reflects the strategies that people uses to confront the life events. The role of coping behaviour and psychosocial factors in the adaptation to stress are herein reviewed.