Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of the LEI standard in the Slovak child population age 11 - 13 years. Method: In eight elementary schools in Košice for recording of positive and negative life events the 28-item Life Events Inventory (LEI) was used prepared in Slovakia. The mental well-being was evaluated by means of: the self-reported General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Rosenberg’s Self-esteem Scale (SE) and the Affect Balance Scale (ABS). Results: The standard was evaluated by assessment of the reliability and validity. The reliability of the inventory was assessed by determining Cronbach’s alpha separately for positive items (LEI-p) and negative events (LEI-n). Cronbach’s alpha for positive items was 0.536 and for negative items 0.563. The convergent construct validity of the inventory was tested by correlations LEI-p and LEI-n with different standards of mental well-being. The Positive Life Events Inventory (LEI-p) correlated negatively with standard GHQ-12 and positively with SE and ABS. The Negative Life Events Inventory (LEI-n) correlated positively with standard GHQ-12 and negatively with standards SE and ABS. All correlations were statistically significant (p<<0.01). Conclusion: The Life Events Inventory (LEI) is sufficiently reliable and valid to be used withing the framework of the research project „Promoting Mental and Emotional Health in the framework of ENHPS“.

        Key words: children, life events inventory, reliability, validity, psychosomatic disease