The steps below show how a person's stress score is found on the Pres…

The steps below show how a person's stress score is found on the Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale.
(A) Each life event on the scale is assigned a numerical value in terms of its severity.
(B) The respondent checks the life change events experienced in the past one year.
(C) Missing step
Which of the following is the missing step (C)?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 1

The correct answer is Option (1) → The stress score is the weighted sum of all the checked events.

(A) Each life event on the scale is assigned a numerical value in terms of its severity. — Correct. Each of the fifty-one life events gets a numerical value by its severity; the death of a spouse, for example, gets 95.

(B) The respondent checks the life change events experienced in the past one year. — Correct. It is a self-rating questionnaire, so the person ticks the life changes faced in the past one year.

(C) Missing step — Correct. The missing step is the scoring: the stress score is the weighted sum of all the checked events, so each event adds its own severity value. A plain count (2) ignores severity, and the mean (3) or the highest value (4) is not how the scale scores.

NCERT (2026-27): “Life Events …
Holmes and Rahe developed a life event measure of stress. A measure of stressful life events based on the above scale known as the Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale has been developed for the Indian population by Singh, Kaur and Kaur. It is a self-rating questionnaire made up of fifty-one life changes, which a person may have experienced. Each of these life events is assigned a numerical value in terms of their severity. For example, the death of one’s spouse is assigned 95, personal illness or injury 56, failure in examination 43, appearing for examination or interview 43, change in sleeping habits 33, as the mean stress score. Both positive and negative events are taken, believing that both kinds of changes cause stress. The respondent’s stress score is the weighted sum of all the items/life change events in the past one year checked by her/him.”

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 1

The correct answer is Option (1) → The stress score is the weighted sum of all the checked events.