Kanner (1981) Causes - hassles and life events

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To Compare the hassles & uplifts scale with the Berkman Life events scale as predictors of psychological symptoms of stress.

Question 2

Method

Answer 2

repeated measures design - participants completed both the hassles & uplifts scale and the life events scale.

psychological symptoms of stress assessed using Hopkins symptoms checklist (HSCL) and the Bradburn Morale scale.

Question 3

sample

Answer 3

100 people who had previously completed a health survey in 1965.

californian, mostly white protestant. 216 initially contacted.

Question 4

Procedure

Answer 4

All tests sent by post one month before the study began, participants were asked to complete:

• hassles rating for 9 months
• life events rating after 10 months
• the HSCL and the bradburn morale scale every month for 9 months

Question 5

Results

Answer 5

Hassles were consistent month to month
life events for men correlated positively with hassles and negatively for uplifts.

Hassles frequently correlated positively with psychological symptoms on the HSCL

Hassles correlated positively more with psychological symptoms than life events did.

Question 6

Conclusions

Answer 6

Hassles and uplifts is a more powerful predictor of psychological symptoms than life events as they happen more often and can therefore build up to become a bigger stressor.