National norms and life-event frequencies for the revised Social Readjustment Rating Scale

The revised 51-event Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) was administer ed to a representative national sample of 5,000 in order to construct and i nterpret norms for overall scale scores and life-event frequencies. Directi ons asked for the frequency of each life-event during the previous 12 month s. Life-event frequencies for each subject were multiplied by previously de termined stressfulness ratings to produce an overall scale score. Norms for overall scale scores and life-event frequencies were calculated. A total o f 3,399 completed surveys were returned (68%). The distribution of overall scale scores had a mean of 278, standard deviation of 422, and marked posit ive skewness of 4.12. Five of the top 10 most frequently occurring life-eve nts were directly related to work. The normative information concerning ove rall scores on the revised Social Readjustment Rating Scale can be invaluab le in understanding and interpreting individual scores, as well as diagnosi ng or identifying at-risk individuals with high scores who would likely ben efit from stress management interventions.