Introduced the concept of a life event as a change in life that required adjustment.
They asked 394 people to compare 43 life events using arbitrary units.
Final scores were divided by 100 and referred to as life change units (LCUs) and the scale was called the social readjustment rating scale (SRRS)
The study was carried out in the US so can not be generalised and is culturally specific.
As a questionnaire was used, no ethical issues are present however, consent and debriefing may need to occur.
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Rahe et al (1970)
Rahe et al investigated the ink between LCUs and illness in healthy participants.
2500 male US navy personnel filled in SRRS for six months.
Then were followed up over the following 7 months tour of duty and all stress-related illnesses were recorded to produce an overall illness score.
Findings showed a positive correlation between LCU scores and illness scores.
Rahe et al. concluded that there is a relationship between life events and the development of stress related illnesses but other factors must be involved.
Study used only US navy males so results can not be generalised easily.
All outcomes were recorded so no specific results can be related to stress.
It was a correlational study which does not imply causality but only an association.
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