Contribution to the construct validity of the Perceived Stress Questionnaire from a population-based survey.
OBJECTIVE
Detailed evidence for the construct validity of stress questionnaires has been repeatedly demanded. This study aimed to investigate the construct validity of the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) in the context of a transactional view of stress.


METHODS
The examination was based on the PSQ and on standardized quality of life and personality questionnaires. The analyses focused on structural equation modeling. A total of 2552 subjects from a population-based survey were studied.


RESULTS
A transactional model fitted the data. Personality aspects and resources contribute to the total perceived stress. Yet the physical aspects of quality of life receive a comparatively low weighting. The prevalence of perceived stress at a moderate level was estimated to be 14.5%, lowest in the age group>75 years and highest in the 35- to 54-year age group. The prevalence of high stress was 3.1%. The total PSQ-30 score of the general population was 0.30 (S.D.=0.15), slightly higher in women than in men.


CONCLUSIONS
We consider the PSQ as a valid instrument for recording subjective perceived stress in the context of a transactional view of stress. The present broad and international database suggests that it needs further investigation in terms of transcultural studies.
Kocalevent
Rüya-Daniela
RD
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Charité Berlin University, Berlin, Germany. rd.kocalevent@charite.de
Levenstein
Susan
S
Fliege
Herbert
H
Schmid
Gabriele
G
Hinz
Andreas
A
Brähler
Elmar
E
Klapp
Burghard F
BF
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires