Final answer:
It is true that both positive and negative events can result in stress, depending on how individuals perceive and interpret the event. Positive stress, or eustress, can also be motivational, enhancing performance in various situations.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that positive events can bring as much stress as negative ones. The perception and interpretation of an event by an individual play a significant role in whether that event becomes a stressor. Even positive life changes requiring a personal readjustment can evoke stress responses, a concept that Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe explored when they developed the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS).
The scale includes both negative and positive life events that can contribute to stress. While stressful reactions depend on personal appraisal, eustress—or positive stress—can act as a motivating factor, enhancing performance in situations like exams or sports competitions. Thus, it's not the nature of the event itself but the individual's response to it that determines the experience of stress.