APA Dictionary of Psychology

a unit of measurement on the Life Events Rating Scale, on which diverse life experiences are assigned numerical values in accordance with their stress-generating potential. For example, divorce and death of a spouse or significant other are ranked as high stress generators on the scale, retirement falls about midscale, and moving to a new house and a change in sleeping habits are ranked progressively lower. Some research indicates that individuals with a high cumulative LCU score (i.e., a high potential-stress score) show more health changes than other participants. See also life crisis.