Life Events Essay Example

Integration: - event integration without domination in our lives.

Some or all of these stages are involved in various life events. Despite scoring
50 on the SRE, marriage is experienced by most people at least once. Despite the society's changing norms, people still get married, although they are getting married at a later age in today's world.

Individuals are remaining in committed partnerships for an extended duration prior to tying the knot, resulting in their social circle perceiving them as a cohesive entity. Over time, the couple themselves begin to perceive their relationship as a unified whole, referring to it as "us" when discussing their familial existence. This realization aids in comprehending the extent of their interdependence. If they ultimately choose to marry, uncertainties may arise and they might question the correctness of their decision. According to Kurdet and Schmitt (1986), marriages experience three stages: blending, nesting, and maintaining.

During the blending phase, which occurs in the first year of marriage, the husband and wife will learn to view themselves as a connected unit. Their actions will have repercussions for the other partner. The second phase takes place during the second and third year of marriage. In this stage, the couple will examine and assess their compatibility with each other. Conflicts may arise during this period, causing both attraction and repulsion towards marriage. The final stage is maintenance.

During the fourth year of a marriage, couples typically enter a phase of establishing their

family while rediscovering their individual personalities. Additionally, any conflicts that arose during the nesting phase are generally resolved, leading to overall improvements in most relationships.

The arrival of children, particularly during adolescence, often diminishes the allure of marriage. However, when the children move out, stress decreases and marital satisfaction is restored. This sense of contentment typically endures until middle adulthood. It's worth noting that despite this generally positive trend, some couples still choose to separate or divorce. As previously mentioned, most divorces occur within the initial years as couples navigate three phases in their marriage.

Turnball (1995) states that divorce rates are highest in the first five years and peak between fifteen and twenty-five years. The SRE acknowledges that divorce during this period is extremely stressful for both partners and any children involved. Typically, after a divorce, children usually stay with their mother. Some argue that males may experience greater stress than females due to this arrangement. However, the mother will likely be busy caring for the children, leaving her less opportunity to contemplate the failed marriage.

Experiencing divorce can cause a sense of losing a spouse, particularly for the parent who no longer lives with their children and may become disconnected from them. The process of divorce frequently brings about significant stress due to factors such as changes in income, losing the family home, and lacking stability. Additionally, some people may also have a desire to get back into dating and discover a new partner.

This adds extra pressure to the situation because both individuals in a relationship breakdown, whether it's one or both of them, will feel stressed. The stress can come from different sources like the

other person involved, family members, friends, and even external parties such as lawyers and solicitors. However, divorces can be even more difficult because they are final and those involved have to start over. According to Woollett ; Fuller (cited in Cooper, 1996b), divorced mothers will find more satisfaction in their daily activities.

According to Bee (1994), witnessing their parents' divorce can cause significant distress in children. In certain instances, children may even be manipulated and used as tools during the divorce process. The anxiety of losing custody of their children can be equally overwhelming as the endeavor of conceiving or adopting children within a marriage. It is approximated that 90% of individuals will experience parenthood; however, people hold diverse viewpoints on parenting approaches and strategies for raising their offspring. Becoming a parent is an exceptional journey for every person, shaped by their beliefs regarding the influence a child will exert.

Regardless of age, the impact of becoming parents can be significant on individuals. Even if they don't have children yet, couples may experience high levels of stress when trying to conceive. With each passing month without success, they anxiously anticipate a different result. Regrettably, their aspirations are shattered when the woman is unable to conceive.

This period is inherently stressful as new parents have less time for conversation, affection, and intimacy. According to Ben (1994), many marriages will experience difficulties when children enter the picture, even if only to a small extent. Marital satisfaction reaches its peak before the arrival of children and may not reach the same level again until the children have grown up and moved out.

When a child departs from home, individuals might feel a

similar sense of loss as they would if they were to lose a partner. According to Holmes and Rahe (1967), the demise of a spouse is regarded as the most demanding life occurrence. The manner in which people cope with losing someone they adore varies from person to person. By referencing the bereavement of a spouse, we are specifically addressing the circumstance wherein one partner passes away, leaving the other mourning and longing for their companionship.

The likelihood of experiencing bereavement is high for one spouse, but it is challenging to determine the specific impact and duration. According to research conducted by Murrell et al. in 1984, elderly men have an annual death rate of approximately 1.6% when they lose their spouse, while elderly women have a rate of 3% per year. When the loss of a partner becomes a reality, the surviving spouse will face considerable stress. This event is regarded as the most stressful experience an individual can endure, resulting in various emotions throughout this period.

Experiencing the loss of a spouse can result in prolonged or unresolved grief, characterized by searching and yearning. It can also lead to traumatic/complicated grief, generalized anxiety or panic disorder, and even major depression. Those who have experienced this kind of loss often express a wish for others to be spared from similar pain. In conclusion, as individuals enter adulthood, various events may occur that induce stress and permanently alter their lives. Therefore, it is undeniable that any of these events will cause considerable stress for those impacted.

Hobson (1981) suggests that when faced with a challenging situation, individuals often experience feelings of isolation and believe that their emotions are

unfathomable to others. In order to regain balance and recover from a significant life event, Hobson proposes seven stages. However, it is important to note that during this stressful period, there is a potential risk of developing additional health issues due to elevated stress levels.