Loading…

Protocol - Life Events - Child

Add to My Toolkit
Description

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.

Specific Instructions

None

Protocol

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

Availability

Available

Download PDF

Personnel and Training Required

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

Equipment Needs

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.

Requirements
Requirement CategoryRequired
Major equipment No
Specialized training No
Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection No
Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual No
Mode of Administration

Self- or proxy-administered questionnaire

Lifestage

Child, Adolescent

Participants

Children and adolescents, aged 9-17 years old

Selection Rationale

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.

Language

English

Standards
StandardNameIDSource
caDSR 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
Derived Variables

None

Process and Review

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)

Protocol Name from Source

Adverse Life Events Scale

Source

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.

General References

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.

Protocol ID

211501

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

Life Events

Release Date

October 8, 2010

Definition

This measure is a questionnaire to assess the respondent’s exposure to a broad range of life events.

Purpose

This measure allows researchers to examine the occurrence of traumatic life events and the respondent’s assessment of the physical and emotional responses to the events. Traumatic life events have been associated with many indicators of physical and emotional distress, including psychopathological symptoms and disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Keywords

Social environments, life events, stress, resilience, Adverse Life Events Scale, psychopathology, adjustment, risk factor, protective factor, resource factor, proprietary

Measure Protocols
Protocol ID Protocol Name
211501 Life Events - Child
211502 Life Events - Adult