Describe the Bedford College Life Events and Difficulties Schedule (LEDS) and name some of its disadvantages

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

A slightly different model from the Holmes and Rahe checklist approach to life events stress is represented by the Bedford College Life Events and Difficulties Schedule (LEDS). The LEDS requires training in its application and scoring and is used primarily with clinical populations such as those with clinical depression, bipolar disorder, and forms of psychoses. Instead of using a self-report checklist, the LEDS uses a semi-structured interview and a panel of trained raters to assess among other variables the degree of potential long-term threat of the life events noted by the participants within the context in which they occur. It is based on what a typical person in that situation would likely experience. Though threat is determined by its potential long-term negative implications, potential long-term positive aspects of the event can also be rated.

One disadvantage to the LEDS is that it requires training in conducting the semi-structured interview and scoring the responses. In addition, it requires a panel to evaluate the responses and arrive at a consensus. Therefore, it is more expensive and time demanding than simple paper and pencil checklist measures. It also, like the SRRS has some of the problems associated with collecting information based on retrospection. However, the LEDS is a good example of a gold standard approach to measuring life change events that can be used as an alternate to traditional paper-and-pencil self-report checklists.