Daily Hassles

Delongis et al (1982) devised the Hassles and Uplifts scale

Aim: to test the hypothesis that daily hassles are a better predictor of later ill health than life events.

Participants: 100 participants (all aged over 45) were asked to complete four questionnaires each

• Q1: Hassles scale
• Q2: Uplifts scale
• Q3: Life events questionnaire
• Q4: Health questionnaire

Results: Hassles were significantly positively correlated with ill-health whereas uplifts and life events were not

Criticism of scale - Evaluation

• you cannot generalise it to the younger population because all participants are over the age of 45
• individual differences - people have different views of what os considered a hassle or not
• social desirability bias - you might exaggerate certain things that are stressful
• retrospective - memory might not be 100% accurate to remember hassles or uplifts in the last month
• health questionnaire may want to be kept private and confidential
• culture bias - is the scale culturally specific? 

Research on daily hassles

Daily Hassles

Bouteyre et al (2007) 

Aim: to investigate the relationship between daily hassles and the mental health of students during the intitial transition period from school to university

Method: 1st year psychology students at a French uni completed the hassles part of the Hassles and Upslifts Scale (HSPU) and the Beck Depression Inventory to measure any symptoms of depression

Findings: 41% of students suffered from depresssion symptoms and there was a positive correlation between scores on the hassles scale and the depressive symptoms. 

Conclusion: this study shows that the transition to university is frequently farught with daily hassles and these can be considered a significiant risk factor for depression.

Daily Uplifts

Gervais (2005) 

Aim: to…