Life Events:

Question 1

What are life events?

Answer 1

Major events that people experience during their life. They can be predictable or unpredictable, depending on a person’s life course.

Question 2

What are some examples of life events?

Answer 2

• Moving house.
• Starting school.
• Marriage/partnership.
• Starting a family.
• Divorce.
• Leaving home.
• Promotion.
• Redundancy.
• Injury/illness.
• Death of someone close.
• Beginning/changing employment.
• Retirement.

Question 3

What are life events also known as?

Answer 3

Transitions

Question 4

What types of transitions are there?

Answer 4

• School transitions.
• Workplace transitions.
• Home transitions.
• Bereavement transitions.
• Marriage transitions.
• Divorce transitions.

Question 5

What are the different types of transitions people may experience?

Answer 5

Physical transitions: Changes in environment.
• Emotional transitions: Personal experiences.
• Intellectual transitions: Educational or work-related changes (e.g., college, university, job promotion).
• Physiological transitions: Changes in the body (e.g., puberty, injury, health conditions).

Question 6

What are predictable life events?

Answer 6

Events that are:
• Likely to happen to most people (e.g., starting school or work).
• Can be anticipated and prepared for.

Question 7

What are the positive effects of predictable life events?

Answer 7

• Building self-esteem.
• Developing confidence.
• Providing security.
• Furthering learning.

Question 8

Can predictable events cause negative effects?

Answer 8

Yes, they can cause anxiety, which may affect health and well-being.

Question 9

What are unpredictable life events?

Answer 9

Events that:
• Are not expected (e.g., accidents or serious illness).
• Happen with little or no warning, so they cannot be prepared for.

Question 10

Can some life events be both predictable and unpredictable?

Answer 10

Yes. For example:
• Marriage.
• Having children.
• Getting a promotion.
• Serious illness.