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Test Your Stress Levels

Test Your Stress Levels

High levels of stress can affect your long-term health, leading to illness. Check out your stress rating on this scale, devised by psychiatrists Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe.

5 October 2021

Autumn 21

The Holmes & Rahe Stress Scale was created in 1967 for measuring how much stress you’ve experienced over the past year.

Scientists have since proven the link between stress and illnesses like heart disease, depression, and gastrointestinal issues.

Check your score by adding up your numbers:

Death of spouse (100)

Divorce (73)

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)

Retirement (45)

Change in health of family member (44)

Pregnancy (40)

Sex difficulties (39)

Gain of new family member (39)

Business readjustment (39)

Change in financial state (38)

Death of close friend (37)

Change to a different line of work (36)

Change in number of arguments with spouse (35)

A large mortgage or loan (31)

Foreclosure of mortgage or loan (30)

Change in responsibilities at work (29)

Son or daughter leaving home (29)

Trouble with in-laws (29)

Outstanding personal achievement (28)

Spouse begins or stops work (26)

Begin or end school/college (26)

Change in living conditions (25)

Revision of personal habits (24)

Trouble with boss (23)

Change in work hours or conditions (20)

Change in residence (20)

Change in school/college (20)

Change in recreation (19)

Change in church activities (19)

Change in social activities (18)

A moderate loan or mortgage (17)

Change in sleeping habits (16)

Change in number of family get-togethers (15)

Change in eating habits (15)

Vacation (13)

Christmas (12)

Minor violations of the law (11)

How to work our your score

11-150 You have only a low to moderate chance of becoming ill in the near future.

150-299 You have a moderate to high chance of becoming ill in the near future.

Over 300 You have a high or very high risk of becoming ill in the near future.

If you find that you’re at a moderate or high level of risk, then you should look at your lifestyle to see whether you can reduce higher stress events in your life.

Informed Investor's content comes from sources that Informed Investor magazine considers accurate, but we do not guarantee its accuracy. Charts in Informed Investor are visually indicative, not exact. The content of Informed Investor is intended as general information only, and you use it at your own risk.

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