Which of the following is an example of developmental stress?

• A. College graduation
• B. Hurricane
• C. Upcoming exam
• D. Multiple demands

Answer: (A)

Developmental stress comes from normal life-stage transitions and changes in roles as a person grows. College graduation fits this because it marks a major, expected transition from student to independent adult, bringing new responsibilities, career decisions, and shifts in identity and daily life routines. The stress is tied to growth and adapting to a new phase, rather than to an external crisis or a single time-limited pressure. A hurricane is an acute environmental crisis that overwhelms coping resources in the moment. An upcoming exam is a situational, time-limited stressor tied to a specific event. Having multiple demands is ongoing strain from workload, not a milestone in personal development. So graduation is the development-related stress.