1. Topic B - Factors affecting Human Growth and Development
B1: Nature/Nurture debate related factors
B2: Genetic factors that affect development
B3: Environmental factors that affect development
B4: Social factors that affect development
B6: Major life events that affect development
B5: Economic factors that affect development

2. B6: Major life events that affect development
Unpredictable events
Are events that happen unexpectedly and which may have serious physical and psychological effects on the individual. These effects can be positive or negative.
Predictable events
Are events that are expected to happen at a particular time. While expected they may have a positive or negative effect on a person’s health and wellbeing
Why can categorising predictable and unpredictable life events be difficult?
Issues such as divorce or redundancy may be expected for some, but shocking to go through for others.
Pregnancy although usually planned for can also be unexpected.

3. B6: Major life events that affect development
Task Sheet 1
B6: Major life events that affect development
Impacts of Life Events
Activity – Independent Task
Predictable and unpredictable life events
1. Create a fact file on predictable life events
Define predictable life events
Give examples
Create a timeline of at least 1 predictable life event that occurs in each life stage.
2. Create a fact file on unpredictable life events
Define unpredictable life events
Create a timeline of at least 1 unpredictable life event that occurs in each life stage.
3. Complete the A3 impact grid, using the internet to support you.

4. B6: Major life events that affect development
Stress
Stress is an automatic response to dealing with challenging situations or life events; causing the body to flood with hormones.
What are some of the impacts of stress on the body?
Raises heart rate
Increases blood pressure
Boosts energy
Loss of sleep
Impaired judgements
Prepares the body for ‘fight or flight’
How do some people cope with stress?
Lack of motivation and shut down
Over/under eating
Smoking and drinking
Anxiety attacks

5. B6: Major life events that affect development
Stress
High levels of stress hormones over a long period of time can affect many of the body’s systems causing a variety of health problems, for example:
immune system – susceptibility to infections and colds, especially if unhealthy behaviours such as excessive alcohol consumption are used to deal with the stress
cardiovascular system – high blood pressure, heart attacks, arrhythmias and sudden death
respiratory system – breathlessness, asthma
digestive system – loss of appetite, gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome
musculoskeletal system – tension headaches, taut muscles, muscular twitches
endocrine system – diabetes, loss of sex drive, absence of menstruation.
Stress can affect an individual’s emotions, especially self-esteem and self-image.

6. B6: Major life events that affect development
Task Sheet 2
B6: Major life events that affect development
Stress (Holmes-Rahe Lie Stress Inventory)
In 1967, Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe examined the medical records of over 5,000 medical patients as a way to determine whether stressful events might cause illnesses.
Patients were asked to tally a list of 43 life events based on a relative score. A positive correlation of was found between their life events and their illnesses.
Their results were published as the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)known more commonly as the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale.
Activity – Independent Task
Complete the Holmes Rahe Stress Scale and evaluate your own levels of stress.

7. B6: Major life events that affect development
Mary was a shy, only child. She enjoyed playing alone and had a small friendship circle. Mary experienced bullying in Year 5 that continued at secondary school which affected her self-image and self-esteem. Mary was very close to her mother and was devastated when she died of breast cancer when Mary was 18.
Mary has been married for 21 years to Bill and they have three children, aged 12, 15 and 18. Bill is a paramedic and works different shifts every week.
Three years ago, Mary had to give up work as a nursing home manager as she needed to be home for the children. Mary was disappointed to leave her job which she loved and which gave her the status needed to boost her self-esteem. Mary missed her colleagues’ company. As the children are now older, Mary works part time as an assistant occupational therapist. She may soon go to university to study for a degree.
Unfortunately, Mary and Bill have begun to experience marital difficulties. They argue a lot about money. Bill has started to spend nights away and has begun divorce proceedings. He wants to sell the house. Mary is distraught, and feels more stressed as their eldest daughter will soon be leaving home to go to university.
Mary has started to drink a little too much alcohol. She is having difficulty sleeping and has put on weight, due to a poor diet and not exercising. Mary’s friendship circle has reduced, initially because of her busy lifestyle, but more recently because she is withdrawn and depressed. Mary has stopped taking care of her appearance and her personal hygiene has started to suffer.
Identify two predictable and two unpredictable life events that Mary has experienced.
Explain, giving two examples of factors that have influenced Mary’s development.
Discuss Mary’s emotional wellbeing in relation to the Holmes–Rahe social adjustment scale.