Stress and Health 425Table 11.1 Sample Items From the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)
Major Life Event Life Change Units
Death of spouse 100
Divorce 75
Marital separation 65
Jail term 63
Death of a close family member 63
Personal injury or illness 53
Marriage 50
Dismissal from work 47
Marital reconciliation 45
Pregnancy 40
Death of close friend 37
Change to different line of work 36
Change in number of arguments with spouse 36
Major mortgage 31
Foreclosure of mortgage or loan 30
Begin or end school 26
Change in living conditions 25
Change in work hours or conditions 20
Change in residence/schools/recreation 19
Change in social activities 18
Small mortgage or loan 17
Vacation 13
Christmas 12
Minor violations of the law 11
SOURCE: Adapted and abridged from Holmes & Rahe (1967).THE COLLEGE UNDERGRADUATE STRESS SCALE (CUSS) The SRRS, as it was originally
designed, seems more appropriate for adults who are already established in their
careers. There are versions of the SRRS that use as life events some of those things
more likely to be experienced by college students. One of these more recent versions
is the College Undergraduate Stress Scale (CUSS; Renner & Mackin, 1998). This
scale is quite different from Holmes and Rahe’s original scale because the stressful
events listed and rated include those that would be more common or more likely to
happen to a college student. Some of the higher-stress items on the CUSS include
rape, a close friend’s death, contracting a sexually transmitted disease, as well as
final exam week and flunking a class. Some of the lower stress items include peer
pressure, homesickness, falling asleep in class, pressure to make high grades, and
dating concerns.
You mention that the CUSS has “falling asleep in class” as one
of its items. How can falling asleep in class be stressful? It’s what
happens when the professor catches you that’s stressful, isn’t it?Ah, but if you fall asleep in class, even if the professor doesn’t catch on, you’ll miss
the lecture notes. You might then have to get the notes from a friend, find enough money
College Undergraduate Stress
5EaNG(%755)
assessment that measures the amount
of stress in a college studentos life over
a 1-year period resulting from major
life events.Interactive