We present evidence indicating that life events checklists may provide information both on eventful stressors and on chronic life strains. By making minor modifications to the probe questions that are asked of respondents, one can obtain additional information to measure the length of stressful experiences so that eventful stress can be disaggregated from more enduring strains. This procedure allows one to estimate the effect of chronic strain on psychological distress separately from the effect of acute stressors. In addition, such modifications provide information on the timing of discrete stressors so that one can assess the effect of more recent stressors as opposed to those that occurred earlier. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of the use of checklists to identify chronic strains and the possibility that there are other enduring strains beside those that are role-related.
Journal of Health and Social Behavior (JHSB) publishes articles that apply sociological concepts and methods to the understanding of health, illness, and medicine in their social context. Its editorial policy favors those manuscripts that build and test knowledge in medical sociology, that show stimulating scholarship and clarity of expression, and which, taken together, reflect the breadth of interests of its readership. Published quarterly in March, June, September, and December.
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