Life Events Scale
Uploaded by
Dawn FarmLife Events Scale
Uploaded by
Dawn FarmLife Events Scale
This stress assessment measures the amount of change, using Life Change Units, a person
experienced and adjusted to in the previous 12 months. It was designed to predict the
likelihood of disease and illness following exposure to stressful life events. Each life
event is given a score that indicates the amount of readjustment a person has to make as a
result of the event. Not all of the events in the scale are necessarily negative events.
This scale indicates that change in one's life requires an effort to adapt and then an effort
to regain stability. Stress and feelings of loss are natural by-products of adapting and
trying to regain homeostasis. This assessment considers only the events that occured, not
individual perception of these events in life. Perception is a key part of the total grief and
loss experience, so while the Life Events Scale has value in increasing awareness of
potential losses and life changing or stressful events, an individual’s perception of the
event is an important variable which needs to considered in the overall assessment. For a
more complete picture of how loss has affected a person’s life consider all the dimensions
of health: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social.
Directions
For each event that occurred in your life within the past year, record the corresponding
score. If an event occurred more than once, multiply the score for that event by the
number of times the event occurred and record that score. Total all the scores:
• Score of 300+: At risk of illness.
• Score of 150-299+: Risk of illness is moderate (reduced by 30% from the
above risk).
• Score 150-: Only have a slight risk of illness.
A modified scale has also been developed for students (teenagers and university aged
young adults). This scale is included in the handout. Similar to the adult scale, life events
are totaled and provide a rough estimate of how life changes may affect health.
Adapted from Holmes-Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, (1967). Vol. 11, pp. 213-218.
Adult
Life Events Life change units
Death of a spouse 100
Divorce 73
Marital separation 65
Imprisonment 63
Death of a close family member 63
Personal injury or illness 53
Marriage 50
Dismissal from work 47
Marital reconciliation 45
Retirement 45
Change in health of family member 44
Pregnancy 40
Sexual difficulties 39
Gain a new family member 39
Business readjustment 39
Change in financial state 38
Change in frequency of arguments 35
Major mortgage 32
Foreclosure of mortgage or loan 30
Change in responsibilities at work 29
Child leaving home 29
Trouble with in-laws 29
Outstanding personal achievement 28
Spouse starts or stops work 26
Begin or end school 26
Change in living conditions 25
Revision of personal habits 24
Trouble with boss 23
Change in working hours or conditions 20
Change in residence 20
Change in schools 20
Change in recreation 19
Change in church activities 19
Change in social activities 18
Minor mortgage or loan 17
Change in sleeping habits 16
Change in number of family reunions 15
Change in eating habits 15
Vacation 13
Christmas alone 12
Minor violation of law 11
Adapted from Holmes-Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, (1967). Vol. 11, pp. 213-218.
Students, Teenagers, Young Adults
Life Event Life Change Units
Getting married 100
Unwed pregnancy 92
Death of parent 87
Acquiring a visible deformity 81
Divorce of parents 77
Fathering an unwed pregnancy 77
Becoming involved with drugs or alcohol 76
Jail sentence of parent for over one year 75
Marital separation of parents 69
Death of a brother or sister 68
Change in acceptance by peers 67
Pregnancy of unwed sister 64
Discovery of being an adopted child 63
Marriage of parent to step-parent 63
Death of a close friend 63
Having a visible congenital deformity 62
Serious illness requiring hospitalization 58
Failure of a grade in school 56
Not making an extracurricular activity 55
Hospitalization of a parent 55
Jail sentence of parent for over 30 days 53
Breaking up with boyfriend or girlfriend 53
Beginning to date 51
Suspension from school 50
Birth of a brother or sister 50
Increase in arguments between parents 47
Loss of job by parent 46
Outstanding personal achievement 46
Change in parent’s financial status 45
Accepted at college of choice 43
Being a senior in high school 42
Hospitalization of a sibling 41
Increased absence of parent from home 38
Brother or sister leaving home 37
Addition of third adult to family 34
Becoming a full fledged member of a church 31
Decrease in arguments between parents 27
Decrease in arguments with parents 26
Mother or father beginning work 26
Adapted from Holmes-Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, (1967). Vol. 11, pp. 213-218.
