Life Changes Flashcards
What are life changes?
Significant changes in a persons life which requires a substantial readjustment in their normal routines
How are life changes measured?
Social readjustment rating scale (SRRS)
Who created the social readjustment rating scale?
Holmes and Rahe
Who conducted study 1 on life changes?
Holmes and Rahe
What was the method of study 1?
They checked the hospital records of 5000 patients and found that stressful life event often happened just before they became ill. They identified 43 important life changes and 100 were asked to assess how stressful they were if marriage was 50. Correlation and questionnaires were used
What were the findings and conclusion of study 1?
There was a positive correlation between high SRRS score for the previous year and physical illness. 130-300 LCU had a 50% chance of becoming ill and over 300 LCU almost 80% reported illness. This shows experiencing unpleasant life events increases risk of illness
Who conducted study 2 on life changes?
Rahe et al
What was the method of study 2?
Research on 2700 male US navy personnel and medical records were kept no matter how trivial he illness. The used the SRRS to assess the number of life changes in the six months prior to beginning a 6 month tour
What was the findings and conclusion of study 2 study?
A significant positive correlation was found between life changes in the six months prior to departure and illness on tour. Both studies show that there is a relationship between life changes and stress related illness
What are three strengths into life changes?
- produces quantitative data which is easy to analyse
- life changes can lead to health problems so we should not look only for physical causes of illness
- shows that event pleasant events can be stressful e.g. wedding
What are four limitations of life changes?
- retrospective questionnaire so memories are not always accurate
- correlation so cause and effect can’t be established as other variables may connect the two
- samples were all males and all American
- the SRRS does not account for individual differences as it doesn’t perceive how stressful the individual perceives the event
