Stress Calculator
Any changes in the routine of your life — even welcome ones — can be stressful. Considerable recent research has shown that stress is a contributing factor — if not a direct cause — of many illnesses. Since understanding stress and reducing its effects are important to your health, we've created a quick test to check for stress.
Use the following stress calculator (based on the Holmes-Rahe Life Events Test) to help determine your chance of developing a stress-related illness.
How stress can affect your health
Check the box next to any events that have occurred in your life in the past 12 months:
- Death of spouse
- Divorce
- Marital separation from mate
- Detention in jail, other institution
- Death of a close family member
- Major personal injury or illness
- Marriage
- Fired from work
- Marital reconciliation
- Retirement
- Major change in the health or behavior of a family member
- Pregnancy
- Sexual difficulties
- Gaining a new family member (e.g., through birth, adoption, oldster moving, etc.)
- Major business re-adjustment (e.g., merger, reorganization, bankruptcy)
- Major change in financial status
- Death of close friend
- Change to different line of work
- Major change in the number of arguments with spouse
- Taking out a mortgage or loan for a major purchase
- Foreclosure on a mortgage or loan
- Major change in responsibilites at work
- Son or daughter leaving home (e.g., marriage, attending college)
- Trouble with In-laws
- Outstanding personal achievement
- Spouse beginning or ceasing to work outside the home
- Beginning or ceasing formal schooling
- Major change in living conditions
- Revision of personal habits (dress, manners, associations, etc.)
- Trouble with boss
- Major change in working hours or conditions
- Change in residence
- Change to a new school
- Major change in usual type and/or amount of recreation
- Major change in church activities (a lot more or less than usual)
- Major change in social activities (clubs, dancing, movies, visiting)
- Taking out a mortgage or loan for a lesser purchase (e.g., for a car, TV, freezer, etc.)
- Major change in sleeping habits
- Major change in the number of family get-togethers
- Major change in eating habits
- Vacation
- Christmas season
- Minor violations of the law (e.g., traffic tickets, etc.)