A nurse is assessing a client's coping skills. Which of the following should the nurse identify as an internal stressor?

A. Peer pressure: Peer pressure is considered an external stressor because it originates from outside influences, such as social interactions and the expectations of others. It impacts behavior but is not generated internally. B. Death of a family member: The loss of a loved one is an external stressor since it arises from an environmental and situational event outside the individual’s control. The stress reaction follows the external occurrence. C. Fear of medical test results: Fear is an internal stressor because it originates from the individual’s own thoughts, emotions, and perceptions. It reflects how the person interprets and responds to a situation, even before external outcomes are known. D. Job transfer to another city: A job transfer is an external stressor because it is an environmental change imposed on the individual. The stress arises from circumstances in the person’s surroundings rather than internal feelings.