Stressful life-events have been identified as contributing to psychological disturbance in chronic low back pain (CLBP). However, previous research has focused on the presence versus absence of generalized distress and failed to distinguish between positive and negative events. The present study examined the relationship of positive and negative life-events to various aspects of distress as measured by the eight clinical scales of the MMPI. Negative life-events were found to be associated primarily with depression and social maladjustment, while positive events were inversely related to somatic concern.