Protocol Overview

May 31, 2016

Adverse Life Events Scale

The Adverse Life Events Scale is a self- or proxy-administered, 25-item questionnaire that reports events experienced during the previous year over which the child had little or no control. The respondent reviews the list of items and indicates which events have occurred.

None

These questions are about certain things that may have happened to you over the last year. Please indicate whether each happened, and if so, whether it was a good or bad experience and how much it affected you.

1. Someone in family died

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

1.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

1.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

2.Family member was seriously injured

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

2.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

2.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

3. Saw crime/accident

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

3.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

3.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

4. Lost a close friend

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

4.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

4.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

5. Close friend was seriously sick/injured

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

5.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

5.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

6. Negative change in parent’s financial situation

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

6.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

6.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

7. Family member had drug/alcohol problem

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

7.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

7.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

8. Got seriously sick or injured

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

8.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

8.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

9. Parents argued more than previously

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

9.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

9.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

10. Mother/father figure lost job

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

10.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

10.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

11. One parent was away from home more often

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

11.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

11.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

12. Someone in the family was arrested

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

12.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

12.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

13. Close friend died

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

13.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

13.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

14. Family member had mental/emotional problem

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

14.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

14.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

15. Brother or sister left home

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

15.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

15.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

16. Being a victim of crime/violence/assault

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

16.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

16.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

17. Parents separated in last 12 months

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

17.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

17.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

18. Parents got into trouble with the law

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

18.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

18.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

19. Attended a new school

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

19.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

19.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

20. Family moved

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

20.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

20.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

21. Parents got divorced

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

21.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

21.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

22. One of the parents went to jail

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

22.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

22.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

23. Got new stepmother or stepfather

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

23.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

23.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

24. Parent got a new job

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

24.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

24.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

25. Got new brother or sister

         [ ] Yes

         [ ] No

If "Yes,"

25.1. Was this a good or bad experience?

         [ ] Mostly good

         [ ] Mostly bad

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

25.2. How much did the event affect you?

         [ ] Not at all

         [ ] A little

         [ ] Some

         [ ] A lot

         [ ] Not applicable

         [ ] Don’t know

Scoring

An event is considered "adverse" only when it is:

1. Mostly bad, and

2. One of the following: A little, Some, or A lot

Export Variables

Variable Name	Variable ID	Variable Description	Version	Mapping
PX211501_Family_Member_Died	PX211501010000	Someone in family died	4	N/A
PX211501_Family_Member_Died_Experience	PX211501010100	Someone in family died If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Family_Member_Died_Affect	PX211501010200	Someone in family died If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_Family_Member_Injured	PX211501020000	Family member was seriously injured	4	N/A
PX211501_Family_Member_Injured_Experience?	PX211501020100	Family member was seriously injured If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Family_Member_Injured_Affect	PX211501020200	Family member was seriously injured If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_Saw_Crime_Accident	PX211501030000	Saw crime/accident	4	N/A
PX211501_Saw_Crime_Accident_Experience?	PX211501030100	Saw crime/accident If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Saw_Crime_Accident_Affect	PX211501030200	Saw crime/accident If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_Lost_Close_Friend	PX211501040000	Lost a close friend	4	N/A
PX211501_Lost_Close_Friend_Experience	PX211501040100	Lost a close friend If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Lost_Close_Friend_Affect	PX211501040200	Lost a close friend If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_Close_Friend_Sick_Injured	PX211501050000	Close friend was seriously sick/injured	4	N/A
PX211501_Close_Friend_Sick_Injured_Experience?	PX211501050100	Close friend was seriously sick/injured If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Close_Friend_Sick_Injured_Affect	PX211501050200	Close friend was seriously sick/injured If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_Parents_Financial_Situation	PX211501060000	Negative change in parent's financial situation	4	N/A
PX211501_Parents_Financial_Situation_Experience	PX211501060100	Negative change in parent's financial situation If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Parents_Financial_Situation_Affect	PX211501060200	Negative change in parent's financial situation If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_Family_Member_Drug_Alcohol	PX211501070000	Family member had drug/alcohol problem	4	N/A
PX211501_Family_Member_Drug_Alcohol_Experience	PX211501070100	Family member had drug/alcohol problem If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Family_Member_Drug_Alcohol_Affect	PX211501070200	Family member had drug/alcohol problem If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_Sick_Injured	PX211501080000	Got seriously sick or injured	4	N/A
PX211501_Sick_Injured_Experience	PX211501080100	Got seriously sick or injured If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Sick_Injured_Affect	PX211501080200	Got seriously sick or injured If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_Parents_Argued	PX211501090000	Parents argued more than previously	4	N/A
PX211501_Parents_Argued_Experience	PX211501090100	Parents argued more than previously If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Parents_Argued_Affect	PX211501090200	Parents argued more than previously If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_Mother_Father_Lost_Job	PX211501100000	Mother/father figure lost job	4	N/A
PX211501_Mother_Father_Lost_Job_Experience	PX211501100100	Mother/father figure lost job If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Mother_Father_Lost_Job_Affect	PX211501100200	Mother/father figure lost job If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_Parent_Away_From_Home	PX211501110000	One parent was away from home more often	4	N/A
PX211501_Parent_Away_From_Home_Experience	PX211501110100	One parent was away from home more often If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Parent_Away_From_Home_Affect	PX211501110200	One parent was away from home more often If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_Family_Member_Arrested	PX211501120000	Someone in the family was arrested	4	N/A
PX211501_Family_Member_Arrested_Experience	PX211501120100	Someone in the family was arrested If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Family_Member_Arrested_Affect	PX211501120200	Someone in the family was arrested If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_Close_Friend_Died	PX211501130000	Close friend died	4	N/A
PX211501_Close_Friend_Died_Experience	PX211501130100	Close friend died If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Close_Friend_Died_Affect	PX211501130200	Close friend died If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_Family_Member_Mental/Emotional_Problem	PX211501140000	Family member had mental/emotional problem	4	N/A
PX211501_Family_Member_Mental/Emotional_Problem_Experience	PX211501140100	Family member had mental/emotional problem If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Family_Member_Mental/Emotional_Problem_Affect	PX211501140200	Family member had mental/emotional problem If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_Sibling_Left_Home	PX211501150000	Brother or sister left home	4	N/A
PX211501_Sibling_Left_Home_Experience	PX211501150100	Brother or sister left home If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Sibling_Left_Home_Affect	PX211501150200	Brother or sister left home If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_Victim_Of_Crime/Violence/Assault	PX211501160000	Being a victim of crime/violence/assault	4	N/A
PX211501_Victim_Of_Crime/Violence/Assault_Experience	PX211501160100	Being a victim of crime/violence/assault If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Victim_Of_Crime/Violence/Assault_Affect	PX211501160200	Being a victim of crime/violence/assault If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_Parents_Separated_Last_12Months	PX211501170000	Parents separated in last 12 months	4	N/A
PX211501_Parents_Separated_Last_12Months_Experience	PX211501170100	Parents separated in last 12 months If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience	4	N/A
PX211501_Parents_Separated_Last_12Months_Affect	PX211501170200	Parents separated in last 12 months If "Yes", How much did the event affect you	4	N/A
PX211501_Parents_Trouble_With_Law	PX211501180000	Parents got into trouble with the law	4	N/A
PX211501_Parents_Trouble_With_Law_Experience	PX211501180100	Parents got into trouble with the law If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Parents_Trouble_With_Law_Affect	PX211501180200	Parents got into trouble with the law If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_Attended_New_School	PX211501190000	Attended a new school	4	N/A
PX211501_Attended_New_School_Experience	PX211501190100	Attended a new school If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Attended_New_School_Affect	PX211501190200	Attended a new school If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_Family_Moved	PX211501200000	Family moved	4	N/A
PX211501_Family_Moved_Experience	PX211501200100	Family moved If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Family_Moved_Affect	PX211501200200	Family moved If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_Parents_Divorced	PX211501210000	Parents got divorced	4	N/A
PX211501_Parents_Divorced_Experience	PX211501210100	Parents got divorced If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Parents_Divorced_Affect	PX211501210200	Parents got divorced If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_Parent_Went_To_Jail	PX211501220000	One of the parents went to jail	4	N/A
PX211501_Parent_Went_To_Jail_Experience	PX211501220100	One of the parents went to jail If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Parent_Went_To_Jail_Affect	PX211501220200	One of the parents went to jail If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_New_Stepparent	PX211501230000	Got new stepmother or stepfather	4	N/A
PX211501_New_Stepparent_Experience	PX211501230100	Got new stepmother or stepfather If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_New_Stepparent_Affect	PX211501230200	Got new stepmother or stepfather If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_Parent_Got_New_Job	PX211501240000	Parent got a new job	4	N/A
PX211501_Parent_Got_New_Job_Experience	PX211501240100	Parent got a new job If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_Parent_Got_New_Job_Affect	PX211501240200	Parent got a new job If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A
PX211501_New_Sibling	PX211501250000	Got new brother or sister	4	N/A
PX211501_New_Sibling_Experience	PX211501250100	Got new brother or sister If "Yes", Was this a good or bad experience?	4	N/A
PX211501_New_Sibling_Affect	PX211501250200	Got new brother or sister If "Yes", How much did the event affect you?	4	N/A

The Adverse Life Events Scale was selected because it is widely used and has documented validity and reliability. Scale scores have been associated with indicators of psychopathology and functional limitations.

Tiet, Q. Q., Bird, H. R., Davies, M., Hoven, C., Cohen, P., Jensen, P. S., & Goodman, S. (1998). Adverse life events and resilience. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 37(11), 1191-1200.

Child, Adolescent

English

Children and adolescents, aged 9-17 years old

No specific training is needed if data are collected through a self-administered questionnaire

These questions can be administered in a computerized or noncomputerized format (i.e., paper-and-pencil instrument). Computer software is necessary to develop computer-assisted self-interview (CASI) instruments, and a laptop computer or handheld computer will be needed to administer the questionnaire.

Standard	Name	ID	Source
Common Data Elements (CDE)	Child Life Event Assessment Score	3139329	CDE Browser
Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC)	Life events child proto	63040-0	LOINC

Grant, K. E., Compas, B. E., Thurm, A. E., McMahon, S. D., & Gipson, P. Y. (2004). Stressors and child and adolescent psychopathology: Measurement issues and prospective effects. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 33(2), 412-424.

Tiet, Q. Q., Bird, H. R., Hoven, C. W., Moore, R., Wu, P., Wicks, J., Jensen, P. S., Goodman, S., & Cohen, P. (2001). Relationship between specific adverse life events and psychiatric disorders. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 29, 153-164.

Self- or proxy-administered questionnaire

None

Requirement Category	Required
Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual	No
Major equipment	No
Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection	No
Specialized training	No

The Expert Review Panel #2 (ERP 2) reviewed the measures in the Demographics, Environmental Exposures, and Social Environments domains.

Guidance from ERP 2 includes:

• Revised descriptions of the measure

Back-compatible: no changes to Data Dictionary

Previous version in Toolkit archive (link)