holmes and rahe stress scale holmes and rahe stress scale the holmes and rahe stress scale (/reɪ/) is a list of 43 stressful life events that can contribute to illness. the test works via a point accumulation score which then gives an assessment of risk. the american institute of stress for instance, regards a score of 300 or more as an "80% chance of health breakdown within the next 2 years". while there is good evidence that chronic stress can lead to ill health, there is not much evidence to support the ranking of stressful life events in this manner. part of a series onpsychology outline history subfields basic types abnormal behavioral behavioral genetics biological cognitive/cognitivism comparative cross-cultural cultural developmental differential evolutionary experimental mathematical neuropsychology personality positive psychodynamic psychometrics quantitative social applied psychology applied behavior analysis clinical community consumer counseling critical educational environmental ergonomics food forensic health humanistic industrial and organizational legal medical military music occupational health political psychometrics religion school sport traffic lists disciplines organizations psychologists psychotherapies research methods theories timeline topics psychology portal development in 1967, psychiatrists thomas holmes and richard rahe examined the medical records of over 5,000 medical patients as a way to determine whether stressful events might cause illnesses. patients were asked to tally a list of 43 life events based on a relative score. a positive correlation of 0.118 was found between their life events and their illnesses. their results were published as the social readjustment rating scale (srrs), known more commonly as the holmes and rahe stress scale. subsequent validation has supported the links between stress and illness. supporting research rahe carried out a study in 1970 testing the validity of the stress scale as a predictor of illness. the scale was given to 2,500 us sailors and they were asked to rate scores of 'life events' over the previous six months. over the next six months, detailed records were kept of the sailors' health. there was a +0.118 correlation between stress scale scores and illness, which was sufficient to support the hypothesis of a link between life events and illness. in conjunction with the cornell medical index assessing, the stress scale correlated with visits to medical dispensaries, and the h&r stress scale's scores also correlated independently with individuals dropping out of stressful underwater demolitions training due to medical problems. the scale was also assessed against different populations within the united states (with african, mexican and white american groups). the scale was also tested cross-culturally, comparing japanese and malaysian groups with american populations. adults the sum of the life change units of the applicable events in the past year of an individual's life gives a rough estimate of how stress affects health. life event life change units death of a spouse100 divorce73 marital separation65 imprisonment63 death of a close family member63 personal injury or illness53 marriage50 dismissal from work47 marital reconciliation45 retirement45 change in health of family member44 pregnancy40 sexual difficulties39 gain a new family member39 business readjustment39 change in financial state38 death of a close friend37 change to different line of work36 change in frequency of arguments35 major mortgage32 foreclosure of mortgage or loan30 change in responsibilities at work29 child leaving home29 trouble with in-laws29 outstanding personal achievement28 spouse starts or stops work26 beginning or end of school26 change in living conditions25 revision of personal habits24 trouble with boss23 change in working hours or conditions20 change in residence20 change in schools20 change in recreation19 change in church activities19 change in social activities18 minor mortgage or loan17 change in sleeping habits16 change in number of family reunions15 change in eating habits15 vacation13 major holiday12 minor violation of law11 score of 300+: at risk of illness. score of 150-299: risk of illness is moderate (reduced by 30% from the above risk). score <150: only have a slight risk of illness. non-adults a modified scale has also been developed for non-adults. similar to the adult scale, stress points for life events in the past year are added and compared to the rough estimate of how stress affects health. life event life change units death of parent100 unplanned pregnancy/abortion100 getting married95 divorce of parents90 acquiring a visible deformity80 fathering a child70 jail sentence of parent for over one year70 marital separation of parents69 death of a brother or sister68 change in acceptance by peers67 unplanned pregnancy of sister64 discovery of being an adopted child63 marriage of parent to stepparent63 death of a close friend63 having a visible congenital deformity62 serious illness requiring hospitalization58 failure of a grade in school56 not making an extracurricular activity55 hospitalization of a parent55 jail sentence of parent for over 30 days53 breaking up with boyfriend or girlfriend53 beginning to date51 suspension from school50 becoming involved with drugs or alcohol50 birth of a brother or sister50 increase in arguments between parents47 loss of job by parent46 outstanding personal achievement46 change in parent's financial status45 accepted at college of choice43 being a senior in high school42 hospitalization of a sibling41 increased absence of parent from home38 brother or sister leaving home37 addition of third adult to family34 becoming a full-fledged member of a church31 decrease in arguments between parents27 decrease in arguments with parents26 mother or father beginning work26 score of 300+: at risk of illness. score of 150-299: risk of illness is moderate. (reduced by 30% from the above risk) score <150: slight risk of illness.