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HUBS/OCCT 3207
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Holmes Social Readjustment Rating Scale
Rank Life Event LCU Value
1 Death of spouse 100
2 Divorce 73
3 Marital separation 65
4 Jail term 63
5 Death of close family member 63
6 Personal injury or illness 53
7 Marriage 50
8 Fired from job 47
9 Marital reconciliation 45
10 Retirement 45
11 Change in health of family member 44
12 Pregnancy 40
13 Sex difficulties 39
14 Gain of new family member 39
15 Business readjustment 39
16 Change in financial state 38
17 Death of a close friend 37
18 Change in different line of work 36
19 Change in number of arguments with spouse 35
20 Mortgage over $10,000 31
21 Foreclosure of mortage or loan 30
22 Change in responsibilities at work 29
23 Son or daughter leaving home 29
24 Trouble with in-laws 29
25 Outstanding personal achievment 28
26 Spouse begins or stops work 26
27 Begin or end school 26
28 Change in living conditions 25
29 Revision of personal habits 24
30 Trouble with boss 23
31 Change in work hours or conditions 20
32 Change in residence 20
33 Change in schools 20
34 Change in recreation 19
35 Change in church activities 19
36 Change in social activities 18
37 Mortgage or loan less than $10,000 17
38 Change in sleeping habits 16
39 Change in number of family get-togethers 15
40 Change in eating habits 15
41 Vacation 13
42 Christmas 12
43 Minor Violations of the law 11
  TOTAL  

Directions

1.  Mark each life event that has occurred within the past 12 months.

2.  Sum the LCU values you marked

3.  If your total score falls in the following areas:
    a.  150 points and below:  It implies you are less likely to experience a health-breakdown.
    b.  151-300 points:  It implies you have a 50% chance of a major health-breakdown in the next two years.
    c.  301 points and above:  It implies you have an 80% chance of a major health-breakdown in the next two years.

The effects of consistently high stress (distress) are "undesirable".   It has been accepted by researchers that "stress" can have both short-and-long term adverse effects on an individual's mental and physical health.   There is much debate as to the nature and probabilities of the causal relationships involved.

Some psychological ill-effects of stress are: 
Anxiety
Depression
Complete Mental Breakdown
Lowered Self-Esteem
Exacerbation of Chronic Pain

Some physical ill-effects of stress are:
Backaches
Headaches
Heart Attacks
Colds
Ulcers
Diarrhea
Constipation
Angina

Stress is acknowledged as a study topic of vital importance not only because of the mental and pshycial suffering it can cause individuals, but also because it may well make a substantial, if indirect, contribution to the social and economic problems of today's society.  It is obvious that the economic cost of stress in terms of absenteeism, sick leave pay, and hospital bills is considerable.

The Holmes and Rabe SOCIAL READJUSTMENT RATING SCALE is only one of many stress test indicators.  You should be able to obtain some indicatio as to your level of stress.   Although individuals may react to a similar situation differently, most of us are affected by an event at approximately the same level.  For example, according to Homes and Rabe, most individuals feel the "death of a spouse" is the most upsetting event in their lives.  Therefore, the authors rank this life event as Number 1.  There are 43 ranking life events that are common to most of us.   These are ranked in order of severity, with Number 1 being the most stressful event to Number 43 being the least stressful event.

Please feel free to consult with a mental health practitioner if your results indicate a major health breakdown in your near future.  They may be able to supply you with more effective coping mechanisms and assist in the reduction of your stress through numerous interventions.

Holmes, T. & Rabe, R. (1967) "Holmes-Rabe Social Readjustment Rating Scale", Journal of Psychosomatic Reserach, vol. II.