Describe Stress Factors.

Stress Factors Assessment Paper

Resources

• Stress Factors Assessment Paper Scoring Guide.

• Stress Scale.

Take the Holmes-Rahe Stress Factors Assessment for yourself in the Stress Scale media piece from this unit’s first study. This interactive survey will give you an idea of how high your stress level has been for the last 12–24 months.

Counselors and therapists face an occupational hazard of taking on some of the stress that our clients are facing. This survey, which you should fill out strictly from your own point of view, will give you a sense of what your own personal stressors have been, even before considering the impact of your client’s issues.

Your assignment is to write a 250-word personal reflection based on what you learned about your own stressors.

The Holmes-Rahe Scale

Read each of the life events listed below. Check the box next to each event occurring in the past two years.

There are no right or wrong answers. The aim is to identify events recently experienced.

LIFE EVENTSLIFE CRISIS UNITS

Death of spouse.100

Divorce.73x

Marital separation.65

Jail term.63

Death of close family member.63

Personal injury or illness.53

Marriage.50

Fired at work.47

Marital reconciliation.45

Retirement45

Change in health of a family member.44

Pregnancy.40

Sex Difficulties.39

Gain of new family member.39

Business readjustment.39

Change in financial state.38x

Death of close friend.37

Change to different line of work.36

[More] arguments with [life partner].35x

Mortgage over [$300,000].31

Foreclosure of mortgage or loan.30

Change in responsibilities at work.29

LIFE EVENTSLIFE CRISIS UNITS

Son or daughter leaving home.29

Trouble with in-laws.29

Outstanding personal achievement.28

[Life Partner] begins or stops work.26x

Begin or end [education].26

Change in living conditions.25

Revision in personal habits.24

Trouble with boss.23

Change in work hours or conditions.20

Change in residence.20

Change in schools.20

Change in recreation.19

Change in church activities.19

Change in social activities.18

Mortgage or loan less than $30,000.17

Change in sleeping habits.16

Change in number of family get-togethers.15

Change in eating habits.15

Vacation.13

Christmas alone.12

Minor violations of the law.11

The Holmes-Rahe Scale

Read each of the life events listed below. As you read each event ask yourself if you experienced it at some point during the past two years. If you have, note its Life Crisis Units value. When you are done, add up those values for a total score. There are no right or wrong answers. The aim of this exercies is to identify events recently experienced.

LIFE EVENTSLIFE CRISIS UNITS

• Death of spouse.100 life crisis units.

• Divorce.73 life crisis units.

• Martial separation.65 life crisis units.

• Jail term.63 life crisis units.

• Death of close family member.63 life crisis units.

• Personal injury or illness.53 life crisis units.

• Marriage.50 life crisis units.

• Fired at work.47 life crisis units.

• Marital reconciliation.45 life crisis units.

• Retirement.45 life crisis units.

• Change in health of a family member.44 life crisis units.

• Pregnancy.40 life crisis units.

• Sex Difficulties.39 life crisis units.

• Gain of new family member.39 life crisis units.

• Business readjustment.39 life crisis units.

• Change in financial state.38 life crisis units.

• Death of close friend.37 life crisis units.

• Change to different line of work.36 life crisis units.

• [More] arguments with [life partner].35 life crisis units.

• Mortgage over [$300,000].31 life crisis units.

• Foreclosure of mortgage or loan.30 life crisis units.

• Change in responsibilities at work.29 life crisis units.

• Son or daughter leaving home.29 life crisis units.

• Trouble with in-laws.29 life crisis units.

• Outstanding personal achievement.28 life crisis units.

• [Life Partner] begins or stops work.26 life crisis units.

• Begin or end [education].26 life crisis units.

• Change in living conditions.25 life crisis units.

• Revision in personal habits.24 life crisis units.

• Trouble with boss.23 life crisis units.

• Change in work hours or conditions.20 life crisis units.

• Change in residence.20 life crisis units.

• Change in schools.20 life crisis units.

• Change in recreation.19 life crisis units.

• Change in church activities.19 life crisis units.

• Change in social activities.18 life crisis units.

• Mortgage or loan less than $30,000.17 life crisis units.

• Change in sleeping habits.16 life crisis units.

• Change in number of family get-togethers.15 life crisis units.

• Change in eating habits.15 life crisis units.

• Vacation.13 life crisis units.

• Christmas alone.12 life crisis units.

If your total score was less than 150 points the feedback is: No significant problems.

If your total score was greater than or equal to 150 points and less than or equal to 199 points the feedback is: Mild life crisis. 33 percent chance of illnesssuch as: headache, diabetes, fatigue, hypertension, chest and back pain, ulcers, infectious disease etc.

If your total score was greater than or equal to 200 points and less than or equal to 299 points the feedback is: Moderate life crisis. 50 percent chance of illness such as: headache, diabetes, fatigue, hypertension, chest and back pain, ulcers, infectious disease etc.

If your total score was greater than or equal to 300 points the feedback is: This score indicates a major life crisis and is highly predictive (80 percent) of serious physical illness within the next 2 years.

References

• Reprinted from Journal of Psychosomatic Research, Vol. 11, Holmes & Rahe, Holmes-Rahe life changes scale, pp. 213-218, (1967), with permission from Elsevier.

Credits

Subject Matter Expert:

Cyndra Pilkington, Ph.D.

Interactive Design:

Niles Bisping

Instructional Designer:

Kristine Holmgren

Project Manager:

Anne Echtenkamp

My stress scale was approximately 33%.

I am a LCDC counselor, as well as a LPC- Intern.

My current salary does not meet all the life expenses, which causes stress.

I am continuing my education, which is also a economic challenge.

References

Books

Gil, E. (2010). Working with children to heal interpersonal trauma: The power of play. New York, NY: The Guilford Press. ISBN: 9781606238929.

Halstead, R. W., Pehrsson, D., & Mullen, J. A. (2011). Counseling children: A core issues approach. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association. ISBN: 9781556202834.

e-Books

Schaefer, C. E. (2010). Play Therapy for Preschool Children. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Zeanah, C. H., Jr. (Ed.) (2009). Handbook of infant mental health (3rd. ed.). New York, NY: Guilford. ISBN: 9781606233160.

Stress Factors Assessment Paper

Resources

• Stress Factors Assessment Paper Scoring Guide.

• Stress Scale.

Take the Holmes-Rahe Stress Factors Assessment for yourself in the Stress Scale media piece from this unit’s first study. This interactive survey will give you an idea of how high your stress level has been for the last 12–24 months.

Counselors and therapists face an occupational hazard of taking on some of the stress that our clients are facing. This survey, which you should fill out strictly from your own point of view, will give you a sense of what your own personal stressors have been, even before considering the impact of your client’s issues.

Your assignment is to write a 250-word personal reflection based on what you learned about your own stressors.

Last Completed Projects