Sources of StressSources of Stress

Life changeLife change Research into the impact of critical life events Research into the impact of critical life events Key study: Rahe et al (1970)Key study: Rahe et al (1970)

The workplaceThe workplace Research into a variety of stressors including Research into a variety of stressors including

overload and lack of controloverload and lack of control Key study: Marmot et al (1997)Key study: Marmot et al (1997)

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Life Change & StressLife Change & Stress

Significant change in life circumstances

Need to adjust to new life

circumstancesStress

IllnessExpect these two variables to

correlate

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Measuring Life ChangeMeasuring Life Change

Holmes & Rahe(1967)Holmes & Rahe(1967)

List of life changes rated (judged by a List of life changes rated (judged by a panel) for degree of readjustment required panel) for degree of readjustment required e.g.e.g. Death of spouse – high readjustment - 100Death of spouse – high readjustment - 100 Holiday – low readjustment - 13Holiday – low readjustment - 13

Adding up scores for changes during a Adding up scores for changes during a given period (6m) gives the LCU scoregiven period (6m) gives the LCU score

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Life Change & StressLife Change & Stress

Rahe et al (1970)Rahe et al (1970)Study of relationship between life change Study of relationship between life change and general healthand general health LCU scores obtained using SRRSLCU scores obtained using SRRS Health scores generated from doctors’ Health scores generated from doctors’

recordsrecords

Correlation between SRRS and illness Correlation between SRRS and illness scores was +0.118scores was +0.118Small, but unlikely to be a chance resultSmall, but unlikely to be a chance result

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Life Change and StressLife Change and Stress

Thomas et al (1997)Thomas et al (1997) Increased LCU scores predicted increased Increased LCU scores predicted increased

mortality risk in heart patientsmortality risk in heart patients

Rosengren et al (1993)Rosengren et al (1993) Higher LCU scores associated with higher Higher LCU scores associated with higher

mortality in elderly PPsmortality in elderly PPs

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Life Change and StressLife Change and Stress

Individual differencesIndividual differences Impact of CLEs likely to be mediated by e.g. Impact of CLEs likely to be mediated by e.g.

personality, coping stylepersonality, coping style Some events (e.g. divorce) may be perceived Some events (e.g. divorce) may be perceived

differently by different peopledifferently by different people

Correlational & retrospective dataCorrelational & retrospective data Do pps have an accurate recall of Do pps have an accurate recall of

events/illnesses?events/illnesses? Does being ill make certain CLEs more likely?Does being ill make certain CLEs more likely?

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