STRESS AS A STIMULUS- SOCIAL READJUSTMENT SCALE

life event stressors

• can be positive or negative

• are choices people make as an individual and not just the things that happen to them

who made the social readjustment scale and what year?

Holmes and Rahe, 1967

method of SRS

• convenience sample of 394 participants

• scale included 43 life event stressors

• each life event is assigned a numerical rating that estimates its relative impact in terms of life change units (100=max, 11=min)

• scale included both positive and negative events

social readjustment

the amount of change or ‘adjustment’ in a lifestyle a person is forced to make following a specific event in their life (stressor)

how did Holmes and Rahe view the SRS

• the greater the stressor

• the greater the level of adjustment to lifestyle

• the greater the level of adjustment to the way the person thinks, feels and behaves

how was the SRS scored?

• 300 points or more= 80% chance of having stress related illness

• 150-300 points= 50% chance of having stress related illness

• 150 points or less= relatively low amount of life change and low susceptibility to stress induced health problems