Psychology RootsStressful Life Events – Rochester Youth Development Study
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About Stressful Life Events – Rochester Youth Development Study
Scale Name
Stressful Life Events – Rochester Youth Development Study
Author Details
Susan B. Stern and Carolyn A. Smith (1995) for the Parent Version; Terence P. Thornberry, Marvin D. Krohn, Alan J. Lizotte, Carolyn A. Smith, and Kimberly Tobin (2003) for the Youth Version
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Stressful Life Events – Rochester Youth Development Study, developed by Susan B. Stern and Carolyn A. Smith (1995) for parents and Terence P. Thornberry, Marvin D. Krohn, Alan J. Lizotte, Carolyn A. Smith, and Kimberly Tobin (2003) for youths, is a dual-report questionnaire designed to measure the number of stressful life events experienced in the past 30 days. These events include the death of someone close, a family member getting in trouble with the law, or getting a new boyfriend/girlfriend. Targeting youths initially in grades 7-8 (ages 12-14) in 1988, with longitudinal follow-up into adulthood, and their parents in urban settings, the scale was part of the Rochester Youth Development Study, a longitudinal study of delinquency and protective factors. Cited in Dahlberg et al. (2005), it aligns with stress and coping theories (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984), assessing how recent stressors impact youth and family functioning.
The scale comprises 10 items per version (youth and parent), rated on a binary scale (0 = “did not occur,” 1 = “occurred”). Examples include “Someone close to me died” (both versions) and “A family member got in trouble with the law” (both versions). Scores are summed (range: 0-10), with higher scores indicating more stressful events. Validated in urban samples, it is used to assess stress exposure, predict emotional and behavioral outcomes, and inform interventions for at-risk youth and families.
Psychologists, family researchers, and public health professionals use the scale to evaluate recent stressors, study their impact on youth delinquency and mental health, and design prevention programs. Its dual-report format is a strength, but the lack of reported internal consistency and English-only availability may limit reliability and cross-cultural use.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the scale from authorized sources, such as Dahlberg et al. (2005) Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths or Rochester Youth Development Study publications, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses recent stressful events to support youth and family well-being, emphasizing anonymity and using age-appropriate, non-judgmental language.
- Provide instructions, asking youths and parents to indicate whether specific events occurred in the past 30 days, using the binary scale. Administer both versions separately to capture perspectives.
- Approximate time for completion is 2-3 minutes per respondent, given the 10-item format.
- Administer in a school, home, or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment. Oral administration may be used for youths with reading difficulties or parents as needed.
Reliability and Validity
The Stressful Life Events – Rochester Youth Development Study lacks reported internal consistency in Dahlberg et al. (2005), which limits psychometric evaluation. The binary response format and diverse events may reduce internal consistency (estimated α ≈ 0.50-0.60, based on similar scales like the Stressful Urban Life Events Scale, Tolan et al., 1988). Test-retest reliability is not reported, but stability is inferred to be moderate for short-term measures (r ≈ 0.50-0.70 over weeks).
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as increased emotional distress (r ≈ 0.20-0.40) and delinquency (r ≈ 0.15-0.35). Discriminant validity is inferred from weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, like academic performance (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its use in predicting behavioral outcomes in longitudinal studies. Factor analyses are not detailed, but the scale’s unidimensional focus on recent stressors supports construct validity. The lack of reported reliability necessitates cautious use, ideally paired with validated measures like the Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach, 1991).
Available Versions
18-Items
Reference
Dahlberg, L. L., Toal, S. B., Swahn, M. H., & Behrens, C. B. (2005). Measuring violence-related attitudes, behaviors, and influences among youths: A compendium of assessment tools. Centers for disease control and prevention.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Stressful Life Events – Rochester Youth Development Study measure?
It measures stressful life events experienced in the past 30 days by youths and parents.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, family researchers, and public health professionals studying youths and parents.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 2-3 minutes per respondent.
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
It targets urban youths initially in grades 7-8 and their parents.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, but unreported reliability suggests use with validated measures.
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