Evaluation of a rating scale on the life events and life changes

Abstract

A questionnaire concerning life events and life changes of those patients whose psychological stress was thought to be the major cause for their mandibular dysfunction was undertaken, to determine and better understand the content and degree of their stress. The affirmative answers to the questionnaire were tabulated as their life score, and was expressed in terms of their stress index. However, it was noted that the degree of stress varied according to each question. Thus, a rating scale was developed and placed on each question to take into consideration the influence upon the individual in relation to the various occurrences. Results showed the degree of psychological stress of the mandibular dysfunction patients to be different when comparing the outcome from the new rating scale to that of the conventional method. Thus, a better understanding and accuracy of the degree of psychological stress may be obtained with the addition of applying the new rating scale to the life score value.