lifeevents

Life events are significant occurrences that shape an individual's life trajectory. They can be planned or unplanned, personal or collective, and are often used in sociological and psychological research to analyze life courses, transitions, and aging.

Common categories include birth and infancy, education and training, employment and career changes, relationships and family formation, health events, relocation, legal milestones (citizenship, marriage, divorce, adoption), economic shocks, bereavement, and retirement. Cultural and temporal context influences which events are salient.

Life events are often used in life course theory to understand trajectories and transitions; events can be timed and sequenced, with the impact depending on prior status, resources, and social support. They can be measured through life event inventories or longitudinal data; researchers assess consequences on well-being, employment, or social participation.

The concept acknowledges variability across genders, cultures, and socioeconomic groups; some events have universal significance, others vary by culture. Critics note that focusing on discrete events may overlook daily activities and gradual changes; instead, continuous processes and cumulative disadvantage/completion may be relevant.

In practice, life events inform fields such as psychology, sociology, demography, and public policy, guiding programs that support families, education, health, and aging populations.