Life Event
Score
A parent has died
Parents have divorced
Parents have separated
Separation from parents (at boarding school or living with another family)
Death of a close family member
Major personal injury or illness
Remarriage of a parent (getting a new parent)
A parent was fired from a job or you were expelled from school
Parents got back together after separating
One parent stops working to stay at home or parent goes back to work
Major change in health or behavior of a family member
Pregnancy of a family member
Problems in school
Gaining a new family member (eg, birth, adoption, grandparent moves in)
Major school change (eg, class or teacher change, failing subjects)
Family financial state changes a great deal (much better or worse)
Death or serious illness of a close friend
A new activity begins (one that takes up a lot of time and energy, eg, dance or music lessons, sports team, computer classes after school)
Major change in the number of arguments with parents or brothers and sisters
Feeling threatened (trouble with a bully or a gang)
Losing or being robbed of a valuable or important possession
Major change in responsibilities at home (eg, must help with many chores or with raising a younger child)
Brother or sister leaves home (eg, runs away, joins army, goes away to school)
Trouble with relatives other than parents or siblings (eg, grandparents, aunt, uncle)
Outstanding personal achievement and recognition
Major change in living conditions (eg, neighborhood gets much improved, fire damages part of home)
Personal habits change (eg, style of dress, manners, people you hang out with)
Trouble with a teacher
Major change in your school schedule or conditions (eg, new school schedule, more work demanded, using a temporary building)
Change in where you live (even in the same building)
Changing to a new school
Major change in usual type or amount of recreation (eg, more or less time to play)
Major change in religious activities
Major change in school activities (eg, clubs, movies, visiting friends)
Major change in sleep habits
Major change in family get-togethers (many more or less)
Major change in eating habits
Vacation
Christmas or birthday
Punished for doing wrong
Total
Interpretation: Drs. Holmes and Rahe have shown the relationship between recent life changes (exposure to stressors) and future illness. Listed below are the score categories and the related probability of illness for a person in that range. It is estimated that it will take 1 year to replenish the energy expanded in adjusting to any of the changes described in the scale.