Question

When assessing a client's level of stress caused by significant life events, which of the following would the nurse use?

1. Holmes and Rahe's theory
2. Selye's general adaptation syndrome theory
3. The general systems theory
4. Lazarus's theory

Answer 1

A nurse would use Holmes and Rahe's Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) to assess a client's level of stress caused by significant life events. This scale lists life events that require varying degrees of personal adjustment and is used to predict the risk of illness based on stress levels.

Step-by-step explanation:

When assessing a client's level of stress caused by significant life events, a nurse would use Holmes and Rahe's Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS). This scale measures stress levels by assigning points to various life events that require personal adjustment. Psychiatrists Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe, in the 1960s, developed this tool to examine the link between life stressors, both positive and negative, and physical illness. It posits that significant life changes, even desirable ones, can be stressful and cumulatively increase the risk of illness.