Name Date Section
Major Life Events and Stress  

To get a feel for the possible health impact of the various recent events or changes in your life, think back over the past year and select the points listed for each of the events that you experienced during that time.


Health
An injury or illness which:
  kept you in bed a week or more, or sent you to the hospital
  was less serious than that
Major dental work
Major change in eating habits
Major change in sleeping habits
Major change in your usual type
or amount of recreation
 
Work
Change to a new type of work
Change in your work hours or conditions
Change in your responsibilities at work:
  more responsibilities
  fewer responsibilities
  promotion
  demotion
  transfer
Troubles at work:
  with your boss
  with coworkers
  with persons under your supervision
  other work troubles
Major business adjustment
Retirement
Loss of job:
  laid off from work
  fired from work
Correspondence course to help you
in your work
 
Home and Family
Major change in living conditions
Change in residence:
  move within the same town or city
  move to a different town, city, or state
Change in family get-togethers
Major change in health or
behavior of family member
Marriage
Pregnancy
Miscarriage or abortion
Gain of a new family member:
  birth of a child
  adoption of a child
  a relative moving in with you
Spouse beginning or ending work
Child leaving home:
  to attend college
  due to marriage
  for other reasons
Change in arguments with spouse
In-law problems
Change in marital status of your parents:
  divorce
  remarriage
Separation from spouse:
  due to work
  due to marital problems
Divorce
Birth of grandchild
Death of spouse
Death of other family member:
  child
  brother or sister
  parent
 
Personal and Social
Change in personal habits
Beginning or ending school or college
Change of school or college
Change of political beliefs
Change in religious beliefs
Change in social activities
Vacation trip
New, close, personal relationship
Engagement to marry
Girlfriend or boyfriend problems
Sexual difficulties
"Falling out" of a close personal relationship
An accident
Minor violation of the law
Being held in jail
Death of a close friend
Major decision about your immediate future
Major personal achievement
 
Financial
Major change in finances:
  increased income
  decreased income
  investment or credit difficulties
Loss or damage of personal property
Moderate purchase
Major purchase
Foreclosure on a mortgage or loan
 
Total score: 

Scoring

A total score of anywhere from about 250 to 500 or so would be considered a moderate amount of stress. If you score higher than that, you may face an increased risk of illness; if you score lower than that, consider yourself fortunate.



SOURCE: Miller, M. A. and R. H. Rahe, "Life Changes Scaling for the 1990s," Journal of Psychosomatic Research, Vol. 43(3): 279-292, 1997. With permission from Elsevier Science.

Copyright © 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher.