ABSTRACT
In the epidemiological literature, the stress of life events has been associated with a wide spectrum of disorders, ranging from schizophrenia and depression, through myocardial infarction and appendicitis to the common cold. None the less, despite the mass of publications in this field, there is still considerable doubt about the importance of life events with regard to both psychological and physical disorders. This chapter firstly aims to indicate why the impact of life events has sometimes been underestimated, secondly, to describe appropriate measures of their impact on health and, thirdly, to ascertain whether or not this impact, when properly analysed, is indeed important for psychological and physical wellbeing. In conclusion, it can be argued that both the gross and the subtle effects of life events can be highlighted by the use of simple epidemiological measures.
