Causes of Stress: Daily Hassles and Life Events

Question 1

Rahe et el. (1970). Prediction of near-future health changes from subjects’ preceding life changes aim

Answer 1

To see if scores on a life events questionnaire predicted the onset of illness.

Question 2

Rahe et el. (1970). Prediction of near-future health changes from subjects’ preceding life changes procedure

Answer 2

2664 US Navy personnel aboard three ships. The participants completed a schedule of recent experiences (SRE) questionnaire. They were asked to identify every life event experiences in the six months before they went on a tour of duty overseas. A total LCU score was calculated for each participant. During the tour on ship, every illness was logged, and on return an independent researcher reviewed the medical records and calculated the illness scores for each participant.

Question 3

Rahe et el. (1970). Prediction of near-future health changes from subjects’ preceding life changes findings

Answer 3

There was a small but significant positive correlation between the LCU scores and the illness scores. The participants who had the most stressful life events in the six months before active service also had the most illnesses in aboard the ship.

Question 4

Rahe et el. (1970). Prediction of near-future health changes from subjects’ preceding life changes conclusion

Answer 4

Life events are reasonably robust predictor of later stress-related illness. Most of the reported illnesses were minor (because the participants were generally fit and healthy to begin with).

Question 5

Kanner et al. (1981). Comparison of two modes of stress measurement: Daily hassles and uplifts verses major life events aim

Answer 5

To investigate the question of whether daily hassles or life events were a better predictor of psychological ill health.

Question 6

Kanner et al. (1981). Comparison of two modes of stress measurement: Daily hassles and uplifts verses major life events procedure

Answer 6

Researchers devised the hassles and uplifts scale. 100 participants (ages 45 – 64) completed the scale every month for nine consecutive months. At the same time, they completed the Hopkins Symptom Checklist. This measured psychological symptoms of anxiety and depression. They also completed a measure of life events twice (one month before the study and in the tenth month)

Question 7

Kanner et al. (1981). Comparison of two modes of stress measurement: Daily hassles and uplifts verses major life events findings

Answer 7

There were significant positive corelations between hassle frequency and psychological symptoms at the start and the end of the study. Hassles were a significantly stronger predictor at symptoms than life events.

Question 8

Kanner et al. (1981). Comparison of two modes of stress measurement: Daily hassles and uplifts verses major life events conclusion

Answer 8

Daily hassles are a more reliable predictor of psychological symptoms of illness than life events.