How Stressed Are You?

This Stress Test from Absolutely Confidential (Winter, 1997) gives you an at a glance picture of your stress levels and where your stress is originating.

Below are a number of 'normal' life events. Place a circle around the numbers in the 'mean value' column for each of those events that have happened to you during the last 12 months.

1. Death of spouse 100

2. Divorce 73
3. Marital separation 65
4. Detention in jail or other institution 63
5. Death of a close family member 63
6. Major personal injury or illness 53
7. Marriage 50
8. Being fired from work 47
9. Marital reconciliation 45
10. Retirement 45
11. Major change in the health or behaviour of family member 44
12. Pregnancy of spouse/partner 40
13. Sexual difficulties 39
14. Gaining a new family member (eg through birth, adoption etc) 39
15. Major business readjustment (eg merger, reorganisation, etc) 35
16. Major change in financial state (eg a lot worse off or a lot better off) 37
17. Death of a close friend 37
18. Changing to a different type of work 36
19. Major change in the number of arguments with spouse (eg a lot more or less) 35
20. Taking on a significant (to you) mortgage 31
21. foreclosure on a mortgage or loan 30
22. Major change in responsibilities at work (eg promotion, demotion, transfer) 29
23. Son or daughter leaving home (eg marriage, attending college, etc) 29
24. In-law troubles 29
25. Outstanding personal achievement 28
26. Partner beginning or ceasing work outside the home 26
27. Beginning or ceasing formal schooling 25
28. Major change in living conditions (eg building a new home, remodelling) 25
29. Revision of personal habits (dress, manners, association etc) 25
30. Troubles with the boss 23
31. Change in residence 20
32. Changing to a new school 19
33. Major change in usual type and/or amount of recreation 19
34. Major change in church or spiritual activities (eg a lot more or less than usual) 19
35. Major change in social activities (eg clubs, dancing, movies, visiting, etc) 18
36. Taking on a small mortgage or loan (eg purchasing a car, TV, freezer, etc) 17
37. Major change in sleeping habits (lot more or a lot less sleep, or change) 16
38. Major change in number of family get-togethers (eg a lot more or a lot less) 15
39. Major change in eating habits (a lot more or a lot less food intake) 15
40. Holidays 13
41. Christmas 12
42. Minor violations of the law (eg traffic tickets, clamping, etc) 11

Add the items circled to obtain your score. According to the Holmes-Rahe statistical prediction model,
A score of 150 or less means a relatively low amount of life change and a low susceptibility (about 30% probability) to stress-related illness.
A score of 151 to 299 implies a 50% probability and a score of 300 or above implies an 80% probability of experiencing a health change - usually a negative change.

These predictions are not definite. What produces a change in health status is an interaction of many things such as how significant those life events are to you, your personal capacity to cope with change, and the available support through family, work and friends.

However, completing the inventory can give you some insight into the STRESSORS that are potentially dangerous to your health and well-being. ….If in doubt - make an appointment to see us.