BIOLOGICAL - Stress & life events Flashcards
What does SRRS stand for?
Social Readjustment Rating Scale
Who and how did psychologists form the SRRS?
Homes and Rahe-examined medical records of over 5000 patients.-made a list of 43 life events-made the patients rate the events in comparison to marriage (score of 500) then average out the scores and divide by 10.Score over 300 meant an 80% chance of developing a serious physical illness in the following year
Name a study looking at the application of the SRRS
Rahe2700 navy personell filled in the SRRS for 6 months before a trip, and then for the next 7 months the number and severity of stress related illnesses was recorded and rated producing an overall illness score.
What were the results of Rahe’s into the application of the SRRS?
Positive correlation of 0.12
Evaluate Rahe’s study into application of the SRRS
-Low population validity (only male navy personnel so cannot generalise)-Correlational research (can’t establish causality)-Prospective research (more reliable)
State 4 evaluative points about the SRRS
-Individual differences (i.e in a divorce, how long they have been together)-Cause and effect (the scale implies a correlation between two factors, but one may not cause the other)-Self report (unreliable; not a consistent form of measurement)-Out of date (i.e ‘mortgage over £10,000’ is not longer an appropriate price for a house)
What are daily hassles?
Minor everyday annoyances causing stress
What are daily uplifts?
Positive everyday experiences which protect us from stress
State 3 examples of daily hassles
-Health of a family member-Home maintenance-Property prices
State 3 examples of daily uplifts
-Relating well to those around you-Getting enough sleep-Being healthy
Who devised the daily hassles scale?
Kanner and Lazarus
Name a study into the effects of daily hassles and life events on illness
De Longis
State the procedure for De Longis’ study
100 participants (all over 45) were asked to complete four questionnaires each:1. Hassles scale 2. Uplifts scale 3. Life events questionnaire4. Health questionnaire.Compared the results from the scales
What were the results from De Longis’ study?
Hassles correlated with ill health, but life events did not
Name and explain a study looking at depression and life events/daily hassles
BouteyreGot first year French University students to complete two questionnaires, one measuring life events, the other symptoms of depression (Beck’s Inventory). It was found that students showing the most depressive symptoms were also likely to be suffering from the most hassles.