Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Oct 19:16:2389-2396.
doi: 10.2147/NDT.S268582. eCollection 2020.

Psychometric Analysis of the Perceived Stress Scale Among Healthy University Students

Shahnawaz Anwer  1   2 , Md Dilshad Manzar  3 , Ahmad H Alghadir  1 , Mohammed Salahuddin  4 , Unaise Abdul Hameed  5
Affiliations

Psychometric Analysis of the Perceived Stress Scale Among Healthy University Students

Shahnawaz Anwer et al. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. .

Abstract

Background: There is a gradual increase in the prevalence of stress during professional courses. Previous studies reported a high incidence of stress among university students. The psychometric properties of the perceived stress scale-10 (PSS-10) have been established in different populations. The current study aimed to assess psychometric properties of the PSS-10 in Saudi university students.

Methods: Healthy university students (n= 192) participated in this cross-sectional study. All the participants were explained about the aim and procedures of the study. Participants were requested to complete the English version of the PSS, the generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7), the sleep hygiene index (SHI), and demographic details.

Results: The range of the PSS-10 total score was 0-35; 1% reported minimum score of 0, but none reported maximum score of 40. Therefore, there was no issue of ceiling or floor effect in the PSS-10 total score. Positive and significant correlations of the PSS total and the PSS Factor-1 (distress perception) with the GAD-7 total score, SHI item-8 and SHI item-13 score support its convergent validity. Negative or no correlation of the PSS Factor-2 score (coping perception) with the GAD-7 total score, SHI item-8 and SHI item-13 scores demonstrate its divergent validity. The internal homogeneity test indicated moderate to strong positive correlations (r=0.60-0.82) between the PSS Factors and the items loading on them. The internal consistency test showed a good agreement for the PSS Factor-1 and the PSS Factor-2 scores (Cronbach's alpha 0.78 and 0.71, respectively), suggesting an acceptable level of consistency. Factor analysis favored a 2-Factor model of the PSS in the Saudi students.

Conclusion: The current study supported the use of the PSS-10 to assess the perceived stress among Saudi university students.

Keywords: PSS; reliability; stress; university students; validity.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest for this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Confirmatory factor analysis models of the perceived stress scale-10 (PSS-10) in Saudi university students ((A) 1-Factor model, (B) 2-Factor model). All coefficients are standardized. Ovals latent variables, rectangles measured variables, circles error terms, single-headed arrows between ovals and rectangles factor loadings, single-headed arrows between circles and rectangles error terms.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Bomhof-Roordink H, Seldenrijk A, van Hout HP, van Marwijk HW, Diamant M, Penninx BW. Associations between life stress and subclinical cardiovascular disease are partly mediated by depressive and anxiety symptoms. J Psychosom Res. 2015;78(4):332–339. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2015.02.009 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Payne JK. State of the science: stress, inflammation, and cancer. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2014;41(5):533–540. - PubMed
    1. Salleh MR. Life event, stress and illness. Malays J Med Sci. 2008;15(4):9–18. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Schneiderman N, Ironson G, Siegel SD. Stress and health: psychological, behavioral, and biological determinants. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2005;1:607–628. doi:10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.1.102803.144141 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Folkman S. Stress: appraisal and Coping In: Gellman MD, Turner JR, editors. Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. New York: Springer New York; 2013:1913–1915.