WJEC Psychology Psy 2 Core Studies

1. WJEC Psychology Psy 2Core Studies Rahe R.H, Mahan J. and Arthur R. (1970) Prediction of near-future health changes from subjects preceding life changes

2. Aims • Rahe R.H, Mahan J. and Arthur R. wanted to find out if changes in life could be related to stress. • They were particularly interested in whether the stress of these life events could be correlated with illness. • The research question was: “What kind of illness predictions LCU might allow in young, generally healthy populations”.

3. Method • A questionnaire was used to find out if there is a correlation between stressful life events and illness.

4. Participants • The sample consisted of 2664 Navy personnel on board 3 US Navy cruisers (about 90% – 97% of each ship’s crew). • The mean age for participants was 22.3 years. • They came from a range of backgrounds with about two thirds being high school graduates. • They ranged in experience from high ranking officers with 30 years experience to apprentice seamen.

5. Procedures • 3 US navy ships were chosen because all the crew members are subject to the same stresses, environmental conditions and infections.

6. Procedures • Participants were asked to fill in a Military version of a Schedule of Recent Experience (SRE) which is self report questionnaire. • The questionnaire was used to check the stressful life events that each of the participants had experienced relating to their personal, family, community, social, religious, economic, occupational, residential and health situations. • The questionnaire was filled in every six months before a six to eight month deployment.

7. Procedures • Each life change on the SRE was given a Life Change Unit (LCU) which was a score given to indicate the severity of a particular source of stress. • The LCUs were devised with a sample of American citizens and have been found to be reliable.

8. Procedures • As each ship returned from overseas, a research physician went aboard to review all health records. • Neither the participants, nor the medical staff on board the ships knew of the design of the study. • This made it a double blind study.

9. Findings • Results were co-ordinated and a positive correlation was found between the total number or intensity of life changes over a two year period and the likelihood of developing illness. • The six months immediately before departure were found to be most significant particularly in cruisers 1 and 3 and with the married men compared to the young single sailors.

10. Findings • Sailors that were in the low Total LCU groups were found to be less affected by illness. • On the other hand, sailors with a high TLCU score were found to be more likely to become ill.

11. Conclusions • The findings show that there is a relationship between stressful life events and illness. • However, it is important to note that the illnesses experienced were minor and the life changes they reported were not major.

12. Evaluation • The findings of this study support findings from other studies into life changes and ill health. • The double blind nature of this study meant that results were not affected by demand characteristics. • The measures used were consistent and reliable and recording of ill health was standardised. • The study had ecological validity as it was carried out on board ship in a real situation.

13. Evaluation • The study used only men and was therefore andocentric and should not be generalised to women. • As the men were all American it is difficult to generalise the findings to other populations. • The SRE does not take individual differences into account (each person might react differently to the same stressor)

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