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The Perceived Stress Scale: Factor structure and relation to depression symptoms in a psychiatric sample

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Abstract

The present study sought to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) when administered to psychiatric patients. We also examined predictive validity of the PSS by assessing the association between the Perceived Stress Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory. A heterogeneous sample of 96 psychiatric patients (48 men, 48 women) completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Beck Depression Inventory. Factor analysis of the PSS established that the scale consisted of two factors. The first factor was comprised primarily of items reflecting adaptational symptoms. In contrast, the second factor consisted of items reflecting coping ability. Both factors had an adequate degree of internal consistency. Finally, a series of regression analyses predicting depression found that both factors accounted for unique variance in depression scores in women, but only the first factor accounted for unique variance in men. It is concluded that the PSS is a multidimensional and internally consistent measure of perceived stress.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Winnipeg, R3B 2E9, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    Paul L. Hewitt

  2. York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Gordon L. Flett & Shawn W. Mosher

Authors
  1. Paul L. Hewitt
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  2. Gordon L. Flett
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  3. Shawn W. Mosher
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Additional information

This research was supported by Grant 410-91-1690 from the social sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada as well as by grants from the Research and Program Evaluation Committee Brockville Psychiatric Hospital.

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Hewitt, P.L., Flett, G.L. & Mosher, S.W. The Perceived Stress Scale: Factor structure and relation to depression symptoms in a psychiatric sample. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 14, 247–257 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00962631

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00962631

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