Which of the following conditions triggers the general adaptation syndrome?

• A. Sleeping for eight hours each night
• B. Consuming a balanced diet
• C. Engaging in regular physical exercise without stress
• D. Exposure to a significant stressor

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) is a model describing the body's short-term and long-term reactions to stress.
2. Recall that GAS consists of three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion, which are triggered by stressors that challenge the body's homeostasis.
3. Identify that typical daily activities like sleeping, eating a balanced diet, or exercising without stress do not activate the GAS because they do not impose significant stress on the body.
4. Recognize that exposure to a significant stressor, such as a major life event or threat, initiates the GAS by activating the body's stress response systems.
5. Conclude that the condition triggering the General Adaptation Syndrome is exposure to a significant stressor, as it initiates the physiological and psychological processes described by GAS.