Psychometric properties of the three versions of the Perceived Stress Scale in Ecuador

Abstract

Background: . The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is the most well-known self-report measure to assess perceived psychological stress.

Objective: . The objective of the study was to analyze the psychometric properties of three versions of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4, PSS-10 and PSS-14) in Ecuador.

Methods: . A sample of 7905 university students (46% men and 54% women) from Ecuador were surveyed using all three versions of PSS.

Results: . All three versions showed a satisfactory adjustment with a bifactorial structure based on the item structure rather than underlying dimensions of psychological stress. The reliability was also adequate, with Alpha and Omega coefficients [α = 0.85 and ω = 0.80 for PSS-14; α = 0.85 and ω = 0.87 for PSS-10; α = 0.74 and ω = 0.78 for PSS-4] respectively. Psychological stress scores positively correlated with multiple health indicators such as loneliness, psychological inflexibility, alcohol consumption, and presence of anxiety and depression symptoms, and negatively with resilience.

Conclusions: . The use of PSS-10 based on its best goodness of fit and PSS-4 as the shortest version are recommended to measure psychological stress, rather than the original PSS-14 version. Psychological stress was significantly higher in women than men.

Keywords: PSS; Psychological stress; Psychometric properties; University students.