Sources of Stress> Environmental/Situational, External

Stress can arise from major changes like death, divorce, or relocation. These major changes are called life event stressors because they force a person to adjust to a new situation. Even routine environmental and social changes can still create stress when they demand adjustment.​

• Holmes and Rahe created a list of life events and asked people to rate the stress each event caused.
• Each event was assigned a numerical stress value (stress points/life change units).
• This list is known as the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) and helps measure a person's total stress load.​

• Major events (high stress): death of a close family member, divorce, marital separation.
• Minor events (lower stress): minor quarrels, job transfer, change of school, change of residence.
• Many minor events occurring together can also create significant stress, not just one big event.​

• Total stress points are calculated by adding the values of all life events a person experiences.
• Holmes and Rahe found that higher total stress scores were linked to a higher chance of later serious illness.
• This indicates a positive correlation: as stress from life events increases, the risk of illness also increases (though stress is not the only cause).​

• Chronic stressors last for a long period (more than a month), such as ongoing family conflict, financial problems, or long-term academic pressure.
• People who experience chronic stress are more likely to develop illnesses like the common cold because long-term stress weakens the body’s resistance.
• Therefore, chronic (long-term) stressors are generally more harmful to health than short-term stressful events.

• A tenant giving notice to vacate the house is a life event that can cause mild stress.
• The house owner worries about finding a new tenant and whether the new person will pay rent regularly and adjust well.
• This shows how ordinary environmental changes can still trigger stress due to uncertainty and required adjustments.​

• Stressful life events that demand major adjustment are called life event stressors.
• Major events have higher stress values, but many minor events together can also cause considerable stress.
• More stress points are associated with a higher chance of becoming seriously ill, showing a positive link between stress and illness.
• Chronic, long-lasting stressors are especially harmful because they can weaken immunity and increase vulnerability to diseases.