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. 2020 Sep 11;20(1):450.
doi: 10.1186/s12888-020-02851-2.

Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) psychometric properties in migrants and native Germans

Christina Diane Bastianon  1 , Eva M Klein  2 , Ana Nanette Tibubos  2 , Elmar Brähler  2 , Manfred E Beutel  2 , Katja Petrowski  3
Affiliations

Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) psychometric properties in migrants and native Germans

Christina Diane Bastianon et al. BMC Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: With the increasing diversity of the German population, it is important to test the psychometric validity and reliability of the German version Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) specifically between German natives and residents with a migration background.

Methods: Using nationally representative data (N = 2527), this study conducted an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to determine the most appropriate factor structure, a Multi-Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis (MGCFA) to compare the validity of the two-factor structure and tested the PSS-10 measurement invariance between the German native and migrant sub-samples. Lastly, reliability of the PSS-10 was examined via Cronbach's alpha, omega and individual item analyses across the two sub-samples.

Results: The EFA results support a two-factor structure in the migrant sample. The MGCFA showed adequate model fit for both sub-samples and the PSS-10 is strict invariant between German natives and migrants. Cronbach's alpha and omega for Perceived Helplessness (PHS: factor 1) and Perceived Self-Efficacy (PSES: factor 2) demonstrate good internal consistency in both German and migrant sub-samples.

Conclusions: The key conclusions are: (1) the German version PSS-10 is suitable for German residents with a migration background. (2) Despite good internal consistency for the total scale, the PSS-10 measures two aspects: (a) perceived helplessness and (b) perceived self-efficacy. Future research would profit from analyzing the two subscales separately, not only using the total score.

Keywords: Measurement invariance; Migration; PSS; Psychometric properties; Stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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