1. Sources of Stress Life change Research into the impact of critical life events Research into the impact of critical life events Key study: Rahe et al (1970) Key study: Rahe et al (1970) The workplace Research into a variety of stressors including overload and lack of control Research into a variety of stressors including overload and lack of control Key study: Marmot et al (1997) Key study: Marmot et al (1997) www.psychlotron.org.uk

2. Life Change & Stress Significant change in life circumstances Need to adjust to new life circumstances Stress Illness Expect these two variables to correlate www.psychlotron.org.uk

3. Measuring Life Change Holmes & Rahe(1967) List of life changes rated (judged by a panel) for degree of readjustment required e.g. Death of spouse – high readjustment - 100 Death of spouse – high readjustment - 100 Holiday – low readjustment - 13 Holiday – low readjustment - 13 Adding up scores for changes during a given period (6m) gives the LCU score www.psychlotron.org.uk

4. Life Change & Stress Rahe et al (1970) Study of relationship between life change and general health LCU scores obtained using SRRS LCU scores obtained using SRRS Health scores generated from doctors’ records Health scores generated from doctors’ records Correlation between SRRS and illness scores was +0.118 Small, but unlikely to be a chance result www.psychlotron.org.uk

5. Life Change and Stress Thomas et al (1997) Increased LCU scores predicted increased mortality risk in heart patients Increased LCU scores predicted increased mortality risk in heart patients Rosengren et al (1993) Higher LCU scores associated with higher mortality in elderly PPs Higher LCU scores associated with higher mortality in elderly PPs www.psychlotron.org.uk

6. Life Change and Stress Individual differences Impact of CLEs likely to be mediated by e.g. personality, coping style Impact of CLEs likely to be mediated by e.g. personality, coping style Some events (e.g. divorce) may be perceived differently by different people Some events (e.g. divorce) may be perceived differently by different people Correlational & retrospective data Do pps have an accurate recall of events/illnesses? Do pps have an accurate recall of events/illnesses? Does being ill make certain CLEs more likely? Does being ill make certain CLEs more likely? www.psychlotron.org.uk