title: Development of the Perceived Stress Questionnaire: a new tool for psychosomatic research.
abstract: A 30-question Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) was validated, in Italian and English, among 230 subjects. Test-retest reliability was 0.82 for the General (past year or two) PSQ, while monthly Recent (past month) PSQs varied by a mean factor of 1.9 over 6 months; coefficient alpha > 0.9. General and/or Recent PSQ scores were associated with trait anxiety (r = 0.75), Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale (r = 0.73), depression (r = 0.56), self-rated stress (r = 0.56), and stressful life events (p < 0.05). The General PSQ was higher in in-patients than in out-patients (p < 0.05); both forms were correlated with a somatic complaints scale in a non-patient population (r > 0.5), and were higher, among 27 asymptomatic ulcerative colitis patients, in the seven who had rectal inflammation than in those with normal proctoscopy (p = 0.03). Factor analysis yielded seven factors, of which those reflecting interpersonal conflict and tension were significantly associated with health outcomes. The Perceived Stress Questionnaire may be a valuable addition to the armamentarium of psychosomatic researchers.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Nuovo Regina Margherita Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Levenstein
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prantera
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Varvo
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Scribano
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berto
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luzi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andreoli
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012803:Sick Role; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*