Results

What we found:

A 1996 study of 318 Australian families showed they had experienced (on average) 6.00 of the 23 stressful life events in this survey.

Other Interesting Survey Findings

The most frequently reported SLE's experienced by the adults were:

• another child being born into the family
• a parent changing jobs
• a death in the family
• the family moving house
• a child in the family being hospitalised
• greater financial problems
• a parent being unemployed

More than one third of the families had experienced these 7 SLE's in the life-time of their oldest child.

Assessing stress and its effects involves more than simple frequencies and in the 1996 study the same 318 families also rated the same 23 SLE's for intensity or how stressful the events were. The most stressful events were:

• discipline problems with children
• death of a family member
• greater financial problems
• the family home being burgled
• a serious illness in the family
• separation/divorce
• less marital harmony

For more information the following articles are recommended:

Slee, P.T. (1993). Children, stressful life events and school adjustment: An Australian study. Educational Psychologist, 13, 1, 3-10.

Slee, P.T., Murray-Harvey, R., & Ward, H. (1996). Stressed out and growing up. Every Child, 2, 4, 18-19.

Slee, P.T., Flanagan, A., & Mitchell, B.R. (1995). Stressed out and growing up: a video-discussion package. Flinders University. South Australia.

Slee, P.T., Murray-Harvey, R., Lawson, D., & Mitchell, B.R. (1997). Stressed out and coping in families. A video-discussion package. Flinders University. South Australia.

Had enough of the stress?
Why not check out the material on bullying in the Bully Sandpit