B6 Major life events that affect development

Question 1

What are predictable and unpredictable events?

Answer 1

Predictable events:
these are events that are expected to
happen at a particular time. While
expected, they may still have an effect
on a person’s health and wellbeing. This
effect can be positive or negative,
regardless of the event.
Unpredictable events:
these are events that happen
unexpectedly and can have serious
physical and psychological effects on an
individual. These effects can be positive
or negative, regardless of the event.

Question 2

What are examples of predictable and unpredictable life events?

Answer 2

Many events can be either
predictable or unpredictable
depending on the life course of the
individual. They can include:
o starting school/nursery
o moving house
o marriage and divorce
o starting a family
o beginning employment
o retirement
o death of a relative/partner/friend
o accidents or injury
o changing employment
o leaving home
o promotion or redundancy
o serious illness.

Question 3

What is Holmes-Rahe social readjustment rating scale ?

Answer 3

Life Event Effect
starting a new
school/college,/uni
E √New friends, skills & better self esteem
X Anxious meeting new people, new routines, feel insecure
physical injury or illness U √ change way of life
X depression, lack of interest in appearance / relationships
starting work E √ Improve self image & esteem, develop new relationships & Skills
X
the death of a friend or
relative
U √ Re-evaluate importance of things in life
X grief, low self confidence, loss of friends, unable to cope/function
going through puberty E √ Feeling grown-up
X confusion, frustration, lots of physical changes, lower self esteem
getting married / moving
in with partner
E √ feeling secure and content, develop intimate relationships
X Learning to share, loss of independence
the birth of a brother or
sister
E √ Happiness, more family time
X jealousy, tiredness, isolation
divorce or breakup U √ Fresh start, new opportunities
X isolation, loss of friendships, stress, depression
going through the
menopause
E √ Relief, new beginnings
X sense of loss, physical changes, lower self esteem, ageing
Redundancy /
unemployment
U √ Opportunity to try something new, retrain, meet new people
X Low self image & confidence, stress, less people around, few skills
Moving house U √ New opportunities, friends, fresh start
X Anxiety, stress, isolation, loss of friends
retirement E √ Socialise with friends and family, reduced stress, high self image
X Loss of relationships, poor self image, lower fitness, less money?