Which of the following psychologists first empirically established that social stresses distort physical health?

Correct option is C

1. Holmes and Rahe developed the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) in 1967, which empirically linked stressful life events to physical health outcomes. They concluded that life stress can significantly increase the risk of illness.
2. Selye was a pioneer in stress research but focused on the general adaptation syndrome (GAS), describing how the body responds to stress in general.
3. Lazarus and Folkman focused on coping strategies and stress appraisal rather than directly linking social stress to physical health outcomes.

Information Booster
1. Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS): The SRRS measures the degree of stress caused by life events and helps assess the risk of health problems linked to these stressors.
2. General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS): Selye’s theory posits that stress leads to three stages of bodily response: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion
3. Stress and Health: Lazarus and Folkman focused on the subjective perception of stress, examining how individuals appraise and cope with stress rather than focusing on its direct link to physical health.