Resource Sheet 10A

Holmes and Rahe developed a scale of 43 life events that require change. The scale is often referred to as the Holmes and Rahe Stress Test. These life events include personal, family, financial, and occupational stressors. As you scan each of the following life change events, circle the number next to the events that have happened to you within the past 12 months. Then add the points and write the total in the blank at the bottom.

100	Death of a spouse
73	Divorce
65	Marital separation
63	Detention in jail or institution
53	Personal injury or illness
50	Marriage
47	Being fired or losing job
45	Marital reconciliation
45	Retirement
44	Change in health or behavior of a
	family member
40	Pregnancy
40	Sex difficulties
39	Gaining a new family member
39	Business readjustments
37	Change in financial state
37	Death of a close friend
36	Changing to a different type of work
35	Increase in fights with spouse
31	Taking on a mortgage
30	Foreclosure on a mortgage or loan
29	Change in responsibilities at work
29	Son or daughter leaving home
29	In-law troubles
28	Outstanding personal achievement
26	Spouse beginning or ceasing work
	outside the home

26	Beginning or ceasing school
25	Change in living conditions
24	Revision of personal habits
23	Troubles with employer
20	Change in working hours, condition
20	Change in residence
20	Change to a new school
19	Change in type and/or amount of
	recreation
19	Change in church or spiritual activities
18	Change in social activities
17	Purchasing a new car or other big
	purchase
16	Change in sleeping habits
15	Change in number of family get-
	togethers
15	Change in eating habits
13	Vacation
12	Christmas or holiday
11	Minor violations of the law
TOTAL
points
	stress level
	
0-150
	Low
	
151-300
	Medium
	
Over 300
	High

 

According to the scale, my current stress level is (circle one): high   medium   low
Kepi-uiled from Journal of Psychosomatic Research, Vol. 11(2), Holmes el al, "The Social Readjustment," pp. 213-218, Copyright 1%7, with permission from Elsevier.
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