A1 Life events GapFill

Every individual will experience significant events throughout their lifetime which can affect their health and wellbeing. This impact can be positive or negative, depending on the circumstances. For example, an individual is less able to plan for an event in advance if it is  expectedsocialhealthyunexpected, which means it can cause them additional stress.

One main type of life event is changes to an individual’s relationships with other people. Examples of these events include entering into a relationship, marriage or civil partnership,  becoming a parentstarting schoolretirementreceiving a promotion, separation, divorce and bereavement.

The other key type of life event is significant changes to an individual’s life circumstances. Examples of these events include  entering a relationshipreading a bookstarting educationgoing to a party, moving home, starting a new  dietrelationshipjobsocial media account, being made redundant, retirement and  exercisingeating unhealthilydivorceimprisonment.

Other changes in life circumstances may be as a result of physical events. These may include  holidaysweddingsbirthdaysaccidents that cause injury and leave someone unable to work for a period of time. It could also be caused by a  physicalpublicintellectualmental health condition such as an eating disorder, which may require the worker to take time off to properly deal with the issue, or voluntarily admit themselves into a hospital to receive in-patient treatment. Many workplaces offer  a sick pay schemestatutory sick paya paid holidaya sick incentive which entitles workers to their usual salary for the period that they are off sick, usually up to a set number of weeks. However, some workplaces may only entitle the worker to the statutory amount, which is only paid from the  seventhfifthtenthfourth day someone is off sick. Therefore, for people forced to stay off work due to an acute physical illness, such as a cold or sickness bug, they may lose considerable earnings. For households with low  work commitmentsdisposable incomecostsexpenses or those reliant on someone to provide as the main 'bread winner' of the family, this can have a significant impact on finances and on health and wellbeing. It may lead to someone being unable to pay their rent and being evicted from their home, or limit expenses on food or gas and electricity.

Each individual is likely to have a different approach to coping with change, and may depend on the sources of social  incomesupportstressgenes available to them. Examples of unhealthy coping strategies include avoidance, denial, comfort eating and   stopping smokingdrinking excessivelyspeaking to friendsdoing exercise.