According to Holmes & Rahe's Social Readjustment Rating Scale, which of the following life events is considered to have the highest stress score?

• A. Death of a spouse
• B. Minor violation of the law
• C. Change in financial state
• D. Vacation

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that Holmes & Rahe's Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) assigns numerical stress scores to various life events based on the amount of adjustment they typically require.
2. Recall that the scale ranks life events from most to least stressful, with 'Death of a spouse' traditionally having the highest score, indicating it is considered the most stressful event.
3. Compare the given options by their typical SRRS scores: 'Death of a spouse' has the highest score, followed by events like 'Change in financial state', while 'Minor violation of the law' and 'Vacation' have much lower scores.
4. Recognize that the scale is used to predict the likelihood of stress-related health breakdowns by summing the scores of recent life events experienced by an individual.
5. Conclude that among the options provided, 'Death of a spouse' is the life event with the highest stress score according to the Holmes & Rahe SRRS.