Stress adjustment scale
Any change in the routine of our lives -- even welcome ones -- can be stressful, both in terms of the way in which we perceive them and in terms of the increased incidence of physical illness and death that occur during the following 12 months. The Holmes-Rahe Scale assigns values (based upon the sample being told that marriage represents 50 points) attributed by a sample of 394 individuals to the life events concerned.
The test is used to determine disease susceptibility. With s score of 150 or less, you have a 37% chance of becoming seriously ill. Between 150 and 300 it jumps to 51%. Over 300 and there's an 80% chance of serious illness in the next 2 years.
Unfortunately, the concepts in this have become seriously outdated. This was originally published in 1967 and since then, there's been much evidence that sometimes events like divorce or a 2nd mortgage can greatly reduce stress. So consider this when using it.
This allows you to determine the total amount of stress you are experiencing by adding up the relative stress values, know as Life Change Units (LCU), for various events that occured in the past 12 months.
A score of 250 mor more is considered high. Persons with a low stress tolerance mya find themselves overstressed with a score of 150.
Events |
Scale of Impact |
Death of spouse
Divorce
Marital separation
Jail term
Death of a close family member
Personal injury or illness
Marriage
Dismissal from work
Marital reconciliation
Retirement
Change in health of family member
Pregnancy
Sex difficulties
Gain of new family member
Business readjustment
Change in financial state
Death of close friend
Change to different line of work
Change in no. of arguments with spouse
Major mortgage
Foreclosure of mortgage or loan
Change in responsibilities at work
Son or daughter leaving home
Trouble with in-laws
Outstanding personal achievement
Partner begins or stops work
Begin or end school
Change in living conditions
Revision of personal habits
Trouble with boss
Change in work hours or conditions
Change in residence/schools/recreation
Change in social activities
Small mortgage or loan
Change in sleeping/eating habits
Change in no. of family get-togethers
Vacation
Christmas
Minor violations of the law |
100
75
65
63
63
53
50
47
45
45
44
40
39
39
39
38
37
36
36
31
30
29
29
29
28
26
26
25
24
23
20
19
18
17
16
15
13
12
11 |
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