Which events are acute stressors?

• A. Acute stressors
• B. Chronic stressors
• C. Major stressors
• D. Negative events

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how we tell apart stressors by how long they last. Acute stressors are events that are short in duration, with a quick onset and a rapid resolution. They trigger a strong immediate stress response, but the situation passes relatively soon—like an unexpected deadline, a minor car accident, or a sudden test. That short, time-limited nature is what makes something an acute stressor.

Chronic stressors, in contrast, persist over a long period and wear on a person’s resources, such as ongoing financial strain or long-term caregiving duties. Major stressors refer to big life events in magnitude or impact, not necessarily to how long they last. Negative events describe whether something is bad in valence, not how long it endures. So the choice that directly matches the definition—short-lived, time-bound events—is the best fit.