Stress Scale
Thomas Holmes & Richard Rahe Stress Scale
To measure stress according to the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale, the number of "Life Change Units" that apply to events in the past year of an individual's life are added and the final score will give a rough estimate of how stress affects health.
Life Change Units / Life Event:
- 100 / death of a spouse
- 73 / divorce
- 65 / marital separation
- 63 / imprisonment
- 63 / death of a close family member
- 53 / personal injury or illness
- 50 / marriage
- 47 / dismissal from work
- 45 / marital reconciliation
- 45 / retirement
- 44 / change in health of family member
- 40 / pregnancy
- 39 / sexual difficulties
- 39 / gain a new family member
- 39 / business readjustment
- 38 / change in financial state
- 37 / death of a close friend
- 36 / change to different line of work
- 35 / change in frequency of arguments
- 32 / major mortgage
- 30 / foreclosure of mortgage or loan
- 29 / change in responsibilities at work
- 29 / child leaving home
- 29 / trouble with in-laws
- 28 / outstanding personal achievement
- 26 / spouse starts or stops work
- 26 / begin or end school
- 25 / change in living conditions
- 24 / revision of personal habits
- 23 / trouble with boss
- 20 / change in working hours or conditions
- 20 / change in residence
- 20 / change in schools
- 19 / change in recreation
- 19 / change in church activities
- 18 / change in social activities
- 17 / minor mortgage or loan
- 16 / change in sleeping habits
- 15 / change in number of family reunions
- 15 / change in eating habits
- 13 / vacation
- 12 / Christmas
- 11 / minor violation of law
Score > 300+ : at risk of illness
Score of 150–299 : moderate risk of illness (reduced by 30% from the above risk)
Score < 150 : only a slight risk of illness
