The relationship between major life events and changes, across a 2-yr period, in the level of parent-reported behavioural/emotional problems in 1397 children from a general population sample was investigated using a highly modified version of the Coddington Life Events Record and the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist. The life event questionnaire used in the present study proved to have a satisfactory reliability. The number of life events increased significantly with increasing age of the child, and a higher incidence of such events was found for families with lower socio-economic status. A significant relationship was found between the total score of negative life events across the 2-yr period and changes in the level of behavioural/emotional problems of the children.