Measuring Life Stress

Again this was taken from "Emergency Services Stress...." by Jeff Mitchell and Grady Bray - 1990 Edition. It can also be found in numerous other locations that deal with mental wellness.

Measuring Life Stress - developed by Holmes and Rahe - 1967

For persons whave had been exposed in recent months to stressful events that added up to an LCU score of 300 or above, these investigators found the risk of developing a major illness within the next 2 years to be very high - approximately 80%.

Event Scale of Impact

Death of Spouse 100
Divorce 73
Marital separation 65
Jail Term 63
Death of Close Family Member 63
Personal Injury or Illness 53
Marriage 50
Fired at work 47
Marital reconciliation 45
Retirement 45
Change in health of family member 44
Pregnancy 39
Gain of new family member 39
Business readjustment 39
Change in financial state 38
Death of close friend 37
Change to different work 36
Change in # of arguments w/ spouse 35
High mortgage 31
Loan foreclosure 30
Trouble w/ in-laws 29
Child leaving home 29
Change responsibility at work 29
Outstanding personal achievement 28
Wife starts/stops work 26
Begin or end schooling 26
Change in living conditions 25
Change in personal habits 24
Trouble with boss 23
Change in work hours or conditions 20
Change in residence 20
Change in school 20
Change in recreation 19
Change in church activity 18
Small mortgage/loan 17
Change in sleep habits 16
Change in # of family get togethers 15
Change in eating habits 15
Vacation 13
Christmas 12
Minor violations of the law 11