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Life event scaling: the Chinese experience.
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|January 1, 1984
Summary
University members rated 69 life events for upsettingness, showing group consensus and consistency across demographics. Perceptions of these life events were categorized into dimensions like personal loss, gain, and role change.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Sciences
Background:
- Life events significantly impact individual well-being and adjustment.
- Understanding the perception of life events is crucial for mental health research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess how university community members perceive the 'upsettingness' of various life events.
- To identify dimensions underlying the perception of life events and explore group differences.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire was administered to 261 university staff and students.
- Participants rated 69 distinct life events on a scale measuring perceived upsettingness.
Main Results:
- High consensus and consistency were observed in the group's ratings across diverse demographic statuses (age, sex, marital status, staff-student membership).
- Perceptions of life events were meaningfully conceptualized into dimensions: personal loss/failure, gain/achievement, environmental/role change, personal catastrophe, minor interpersonal problems, and legal/court issues.
- Subtle differences in event perception emerged among specific demographic groups.
Conclusions:
- The perception of life events exhibits considerable consensus within a university community.
- Key dimensions such as personal loss, gain, and change effectively capture the essence of life event perceptions.
- Attributes like adjustment, control, and desirability offer nuanced insights into how individuals experience life events.