Stress and Life Changes (SRRS Scale) Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the social readjustment rating scale?

Holmes and Rahe designed it in 1967 and made a list of life changes to adjust to, which were ordered by participants to calculate life change units.

What is the SRRS used for?

It reflects on people's stress levels based on life events experienced over a 2 year period.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the SRRS?

It is targeted towards older age groups and not generalizable to younger people, as it does not account for individual circumstances.

What did Rahe study in 1970?

They studied navy staff, comparing their SRRS scores with medical records to see if high stress leads to illness. Signup and view all the answers

What were the results of Rahe?

There was a positive but weak correlation between stress before the tour of duty and illness during the tour. Signup and view all the answers

What are the strengths of Rahe's study?

It used objective medical records, reducing bias, and standardized conditions among sailors. Signup and view all the answers

What are the weaknesses of Rahe's study?

It is not generalizable to other populations, and lifestyle factors may contribute to illness. Signup and view all the answers

What did Green study in 1986?

He examined a volunteer sample of 50 men in a dental setting and gave them a life experience survey. Signup and view all the answers

What did Green's results show?

There was a positive correlation between disease score and stress score. Signup and view all the answers

What are the strengths of Green's study?

The use of a dentist provided objective measurements, and it was a single-blind study to reduce investigator effects. Signup and view all the answers

What is a weakness of Green's study?

Extraneous variables like smoking and diet could affect results, making it unclear if stress is the sole factor for disease. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Developed by Holmes and Rahe in 1967 to measure life changes and associated stress.
Participants ranked various life events by the impact on their lives to create "life change units."

Purpose of the SRRS

Used to track life events experienced by individuals over a two-year period.
A score of 150 or more indicates a 30% increased likelihood of stress-related health issues; a score over 300 indicates a 50% increase.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the SRRS

Primarily applicable to older age groups, limiting its generalizability to younger individuals.
Fails to consider personal circumstances affecting stress; high-impact events like incarceration are undervalued at only 40 points.

Rahe's Study (1970)

Conducted research on navy personnel, comparing SRRS scores collected before and during a six-month tour.
Investigated correlations between SRRS scores and illness recorded in medical records.

Results of Rahe's Study

Found a weak positive correlation between higher SRRS scores before deployment and increased incidence of illness during the tour.

Strengths of Rahe's Study

Utilized objective medical records from ship doctors, reducing bias compared to self-reported health claims.
Standardized conditions for sailors ensured consistency in factors such as diet, age, and environmental exposure.

Weaknesses of Rahe's Study

Limited generalizability due to the unique stressors associated with military life.
Did not control for lifestyle factors which may have contributed to health outcomes independent of stress levels.

Green's Study (1986)

Involved a volunteer sample of 50 men who were evaluated for gum and jaw disease by a dentist.
Participants completed a life experience survey, allowing correlation between health and stress scores.

Results of Green's Study

Identified a positive correlation between higher disease scores and higher stress scores, suggesting stress affects immune response and oral health.

Strengths of Green's Study

Employed objective measurements through dental examinations, enhancing the study's reliability.
Conducted as a single-blind study, as the dentist was unaware of participants' stress scores, reducing bias in assessments.

Weakness of Green's Study

Potential extraneous variables such as unhealthy coping mechanisms (e.g., smoking, poor diet) complicate the relationship between stress and gum/jaw disease, challenging the conclusion that stress is the sole influencing factor.

Description

This quiz provides flashcards on the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), designed by Holmes and Rahe in 1967. It covers the details of how life changes are quantified and assessed for their impact on individuals. Test your knowledge on the scale and its applications in understanding stress and life transitions.