Give an example of a life event which is likely to be stressful. Suggest reasons why it is likely to cause different degrees of stress to the person experiencing it.
An example of a life event which is likely to be stressful is the break-up of a long-term relationship. Major life events can be stressful because they disturb our routine and cause upheaval.
There are several reasons why this life event is likely to cause different degrees of stress to the person experiencing it. First, the experience of stress varies in terms of intensity, duration, complexity, and predictability. Usually, more intense, prolonged, complex, and unanticipated stresses have more negative consequences than less intense, short-term, less complex, and expected stresses.
Second, an individual's experience of stress depends on their physiological strength. Individuals with poor physical health and a weak constitution would be more vulnerable to stress than those who enjoy good health and a strong constitution.
Finally, if several life events, whether planned or unpredicted, occur within a short period of time, we find it difficult to cope with them. This accumulation makes a person more prone to the symptoms of stress, causing varying degrees of stress based on their current life circumstances.
Explanation
The answer uses the example of a break-up of a long-term relationship, which is explicitly mentioned in the text as an unpredicted life event that causes upheaval. The reasons for varying degrees of stress are drawn directly from the text: the dimensions of stress (intensity, duration, complexity, predictability), the physiological strength of the individual, and the accumulation of multiple life events within a short period.