What concept emphasizes multiple interrelated causes in chronic disease etiology?

• A. Web of causation
• B. Germ theory
• C. Single-cause model
• D. Linear cause-and-effect model

Answer: (A)

The web of causation captures the idea that chronic disease arises from a network of interrelated factors across biological, behavioral, environmental, and social domains. Rather than a single trigger, several influences interact, amplify one another, or occur in sequence to produce disease over time. For example, cardiovascular risk comes from a combination of genetics, diet, physical activity, smoking, stress, and access to care, all influencing each other rather than following a simple one-factor pathway.

Germ theory focuses on disease caused by a specific organism, which is more applicable to infectious diseases and not the multifactorial nature of most chronic conditions. A single-cause model and a linear cause-and-effect model imply a straightforward, unidirectional path, which misses how factors combine and modify each other across different levels, such as individual behavior, social conditions, and policy. Understanding the web of causation thus supports designing prevention and intervention approaches that address multiple, interacting factors and their broader context.