What is the relationship between stressful life experiences and disease?
Dr. Holmes and Dr. Rahe developed, the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS). They had hypothesized that stressful events would be correlated with illness. The SRRS demonstrated a positive correlation between people who reported stressful events and their increased chances of becoming ill. Be sure to compare the scale in your text to see which one is most appropriate for you to take.
| Death of a Spouse | 100 | Divorce | 73 |
| Marital separation | 65 | Jail term | 65 |
| Death of close family member | 63 | Personal injury or illness | 63 |
| Marriage | 50 | Fired at work | 47 |
| Marriage reconciliation | 45 | Retirement | 45 |
| Change in health of family member | 44 | Pregnancy | 40 |
| Sexual dysfunction | 39 | Gain of a new family member | 44 |
| Business readjustment | 38 | Change in financial status | 38 |
| Death of a close friend | 37 | Change to different line of work | 36 |
| Change in number of arguments with spouse | 35 | Mortgage over $10,000 | 31 |
| Foreclosure of mortgage or loan | 30 | Change in responsibilities at work | 29 |
| Son or daughter leaving home | 29 | Trouble with in-laws | 29 |
| Outstanding personal achievement | 28 | Spouse begins 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 work hours or conditions | 20 | Change in residence | 20 |
| Change in schools | 20 | Change in recreation | 20 |
| Change in church activities | 19 | Change in social activities | 19 |
| Mortgage or loan less than $10,000 | 17 | Change in sleeping habits | 16 |
| Change in number of family get-togethers | 15 | Change in eating habits | 13 |
| Vacation | 13 | Christmas | 12 |
| Minor violation of the law | 11 |
To find your score, check the events applying to you
during the past 12 months. Then add up the total value. Your total score______
Some stress is necessary for life, but too much may be harmful according to the
Homes-Rahe scale developed by Dr. Thomas Holmes and Richard H. Rahe at the University of
Washington medical school.[1] [2] The scale suggests that a person scoring less than 150 on the
scale has only a 50 percent chance of becoming ill during the next two years. A score of
150 and above raises the odds of illness to 90 percent.
What does
this index suggest for you? Does it seem accurate to you? Why or why not?
What do you think that the duration and intensity of the event have to do with
stress? What does an individual's perception have to do with the stress? What
are the strengths in attempting to develop a stress scale and what are some of
the pitfalls? What research questions does the scale raise? (3)1 Greenberg, Jerrold S. ,Comprehensive Stress
Management 8th ed., Boston MA: McGRaw Hill, 2002, p.84-85
2 Seaward, Brian Luke, Managing Stress Principles
and Strategies for Health and Wellbeing 6th ed., Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett
Publishers, 2009, p.14-183
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes_and_Rahe_stress_scale
Email:
rbrehm@msn.com
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Copyright © 1998 [ Robert Brehm]. All rights reserved.