Life event research : a review of methodology (with special reference to India)

In spite of extensive work having been done on the correlation between significant life events and development of physical as well as psychiatric illnesses, major controversies remain on the methodological issues involved. The present paper deals with some of these issues, e.g., selection of events and formation of event lists, severity rating of individual events, summation of event scores, reliability of reporting and provision of adequate control groups. Different modes of categorization of events are discussed. Need for caution regarding straight correlation of experienced events with illness has been pointed out. Special emphasis has been given to methodological modifications necessary for life event research in India. These include the issue of culture specificity of events and relatively prolonged stresses, reliability testing from a family member and use of semi-structured interview method in preference to paper and pencil questionnaires. Suggestions are offered for better controlled and methodologically superior studies on life events in India.