Question

According to Holmes and Rahe, arrange stressful life events in sequence from highest to lowest in terms of their severity:
(A) Unexpected accident or trauma
(B) Break-up with friend
(C) Illness of family member
(D) Death of a close family member
(E) Change in eating habits

• A. (D), (A), (C), (B), (E)
• B. (D), (C), (A), (B), (E)
• C. (D), (B), (A), (C), (E)
• D. (B), (D), (A), (E), (C)

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

According to the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale, different life events have varying levels of stress severity. The events are arranged from highest to lowest severity as follows:

Death of a close family member: Ranked as one of the most stressful events due to the emotional and practical impact on one's life.

Unexpected accident or trauma: Accidents or traumas are also highly stressful but rank below death due to their sudden nature and impact on health or well-being.

Illness of a family member: Illness in the family is stressful, but it ranks lower than trauma or death, though it can still cause significant emotional strain.

Break-up with a friend: Emotional relationship issues can cause stress, but the impact is usually lesser than that of death or serious illness.

Change in eating habits: Lifestyle changes like eating habits are relatively minor stressors, reflecting less severe long-term stress compared to other life events.

This ranking helps to understand the relative impact of various life events on an individual’s overall stress level.