Table of Contents
List of Threatening Experiences (LTE)
The List of Threatening Experiences (LTE) is an instrument developed by Traolach Brugha and measures the occurrence of 12 major categories of stressful life events1) via self-report (section: mental health). The 12 major categories of stressful life events were selected for their established long-term consequences.
In Lifelines, the LTE is used in tandem with the Long-term Difficulties Inventory (LDI) to assess stress in participants.
A sum score and suspiciousness flag for the LTE is available for use.
Background and validation
The LTE is a 12-item self report questionnaire that measures stressful life events. For each response category, participants indicated whether or not they experienced each of these events in the last 12 months (yes=1/no=0)2).
The Dutch translation includes an additional thirteenth question: “Did you experience any other major severe negative events (yes/no)? If yes, briefly describe what happened?”
Item scores are summed to derive a total score3).
Inter- and intra-rater reliability were assessed for the LTE1)3) and only for one item (concerning something valuable that was lost or stolen) the intra-rater variability was not significant. Intra-rater reliability of the Dutch version is only available for the lifetime version of the questionnaire, which was assessed twice approximately two years apart (covering the same period).
Variables
The LTE questionnaire has been used several times in general assessments (1A, 1B, 1C, 2A) as well as in additional assessments ACTQ, DEAQ), MHDQ,(NEXT. The main question differed between the assessments as follows:
| Main Question in English | Main Question in Dutch | Code | Variable | Assessment | Age |
| Could you indicate whether you experienced this unpleasant event in the past year? | Wilt u aangeven of u deze onplezierige gebeurtenis afgelopen jaar hebt meegemaakt? | lte_pastyear_adu_q_x | BRUGHAx | 1A 1B 1C 2A 3B MHDQ | 18+ |
| Could you indicate whether you experienced this since you filled in Lifelines vragenlijst 4 (2A)? | Wilt u aangeven of u deze hebt meegemaakt sinds de keer dat u Lifelines vragenlijst 4 (2A) invulde? | lte_followup_adu_q_x | BRUGHBx | ACTQ | 18+ |
| Could you indicate whether you experienced the following events during your pregnancy? | Kunt u aangeven of u onderstaande gebeurtenissen tijdens uw zwangerschap hebt ervaren? | lte_pregnancy_adu_q_x | BRUGHAPREGx | NEXT | 18+ |
| Could you indicate whether you experienced the following events after the birth pf your child? | Kunt u aangeven of u onderstaande gebeurtenissen na de geboorte van uw kind hebt ervaren? | lte_postpartum_adu_q_x | BRUGHC | NEXT | 18+ |
| did you experience one or more of these events in the 3 months prior to the period in which you felt down, empty or depressed? | Hebt u één of meer van deze gebeurtenissen meegemaakt in de 3 maanden voor de periode waarin u somber, leeg of depressief voelde? | lte_mdd_adu_q_x | BRUGHDx | DEAQ | 18+ |
| did you experience one or more of these events in the 3 months prior to the period in which you felt excessively anxious or worried? | Hebt u één of meer van deze gebeurtenissen meegemaakt in de 3 maanden voor de periode waarin u zich overmatig angstig of bezorgd voelde? | lte_gad_adu_q_x | BRUGHEx | DEAQ | 18+ |
Virtually no changes have occurred in the list of 13 stressful events that participants had to choose from (yes/no). Only for event 13, 'other negative events', there were three open text fields to fill-in during general assessments and the MHDQ and this was reduced to one open text field in ACTQ and DEAQ.
| Questions English | Questions Dutch | Code | Variable | Age |
| You were severely ill, severely injured or a victim of violence | U was ernstig ziek, ernstig gewond of slachtoffer van geweld | lte_[period]_adu_q_01 | BRUGH[x]1 | 18+ |
| A relative was severely ill, severely injured or a victim of violence | Een naast familielid werd ernstig ziek, ernstig gewond of slachtoffer van geweld | lte_[period]_adu_q_02 | BRUGH[x]2 | 18+ |
| A parent, child, brother, sister or partner died | Een ouder, kind, broer, zus of partner overleed | lte_[period]_adu_q_03 | BRUGH[x]3 | 18+ |
| A good friend or close relative died | Een goede vriend of naast familielid overleed | lte_[period]_adu_q_04 | BRUGH[x]4 | 18+ |
| You and your partner split up | Uw partner en u gingen uit elkaar | lte_[period]_adu_q_05 | BRUGH[x]5 | 18+ |
| You ended a long-term relationship with a good friend or relative | U verbrak een langdurige vriendschap met een goede vriend of familielid | lte_[period]_adu_q_06 | BRUGH[x]6 | 18+ |
| You got into a serious problem with a good friend, relative or neighbour | U kreeg een ernstig probleem met een goede vriend, familielid of buur | lte_[period]_adu_q_07 | BRUGH[x]7 | 18+ |
| You lost your job and haven't been able to find work again | U werd werkloos en zocht vergeefs naar werk | lte_[period]_adu_q_08 | BRUGH[x]8 | 18+ |
| You were fired | U werd ontslagen | lte_[period]_adu_q_09 | BRUGH[x]9 | 18+ |
| You faced severe financial difficulties | U kwam voor ernstige financiële moeilijkheden te staan | lte_[period]_adu_q_10 | BRUGH[x]10 | 18+ |
| You got into trouble with the police or the law | Door overtreding kwam u in aanraking met politie of rechtbank | lte_[period]_adu_q_11 | BRUGH[x]11 | 18+ |
| You lost money or valuables or these were stolen from you | Door diefstal of verlies raakte u geld of iets waardevols kwijt | lte_[period]_adu_q_12 | BRUGH[x]12 | 18+ |
| Did any other important and serious negative events happen to you in the past year? | Zijn u nog andere belangrijke ernstige negatieve gebeurtenissen overkomen afgelopen jaar? | lte_[period]_adu_q_13 | BRUGH[x]13 | 18+ |
