The Perceived Stress Scale for Children (PSS-C): Adaptation and Psychometric Indicators

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Abstract

The article presents the results of adapting and testing of the “Perceived Stress Scale for Children” (PSS-C) on a Russian-speaking sample of adolescents aged 11 to 16 (n = 612). The study sample consisted of students from grades 5 to 8 in secondary schools in various regions of the Russian Federation (Trans-Baikal Territory, Altai Territory, Moscow Region, Leningrad Region). The results of psychometric testing indicate that the questionnaire has good internal consistency with correlations between the final score and stand alone questions being rs = [0.4; 0.64], p < 0.01; the half-form reliability rt = 0.78; the Cronbach's α = 0.741. A direct relationship between the perceived stress level and situational anxiety was shown (rs = 0.67, p < 0.01), which persisted when taking into account the age, gender, and region of residence of the respondents. These findings suggest that PSS-C has convergent validity. Factor analysis of the questionnaire revealed the presence of two factors in the perceived stress structure: 1) “Tension” and 2) “Resources”. The two-factor model of perceived stress was confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis (RMSEA = 0.058, 90% CI [0.045, 0.072], CFI = 0.952, GFI = 0.977). The discriminativeness of the questionnaire was δ = 0.97. Gender differences in the level of perceived stress are shown; age differences are due to an increase in study load. The “Perceived Stress Scale for Children” questionnaire is a valid and reliable technique for diagnosing stress in adolescents aged 11 to 16. It can be used both in individual assessments and group diagnostics for monitoring of stress levels in adolescence.

General Information

Keywords: Perceived Stress Scale for Children, stress, adolescents, diagnostics

Journal rubric: Tools

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/exppsy.2024170211

Funding. The study was carried out in accordance with the State Assignment of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation No. 0138-2024-0009 «Systemic development of the individual in normal, subextremal and extreme conditions of life».

Acknowledgements. The authors would like to thank O.A. Vorona, T.A. Garbuz, Yu.G. Izmailova (Chita, Trans-Baikal Territory), M.G. Kravtseva and A.N. Dymova (Zvenigorod, Losino-Petrovsky, Moscow region), L.V. Frolova (Kamennogorsk, Leningrad region), for their assistance in collecting the data for this study.

Received: 22.03.2024

Accepted:

For citation: Kharlamenkova N. E., Kazymova N.N., Nikitina D.A., Dymova E.N., Shatalova N., Guryanova T.A. The Perceived Stress Scale for Children (PSS-C): Adaptation and Psychometric Indicators. Eksperimental'naâ psihologiâ = Experimental Psychology (Russia), 2024. Vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 178–198. DOI: 10.17759/exppsy.2024170211. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

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Information About the Authors

Natalia E. Kharlamenkova, Doctor of Psychology, professor, Deputy Director for Scientific Work, Head of the Laboratory of Psychology of the development of the subject in normal and post-traumatic conditions, Institute of Psychology of Russian Academy of Science, Head of the Department of Personality Psychology of the Faculty of Psychology of the State Academic University of Humanities, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0508-4157, e-mail: nataly.kharlamenkova@gmail.com

Nadezhda N. Kazymova, PhD in Psychology, research associate, Institute of Psychology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3414-8551, e-mail: kazymovann@ipran.ru

Daria A. Nikitina, PhD in Psychology, Junior Researcher, Laboratory of Developmental Psychology of the subject in normal and post-traumatic conditions, Institute of Psychology Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6695-1851, e-mail: d.a.nikitina@yandex.ru

Ekaterina N. Dymova, Junior Researcher, Laboratory of Psychology of the Development of the Subject in Normal and Post-Traumatic Conditions, Institute of Psychology of Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9638-5595, e-mail: grebennikovakaty@mail.ru

Nadezhda Shatalova, leading specialist, Institute of Psychology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1413-7529, e-mail: shatalovane@ipran.ru

Tatiana A. Guryanova, PhD in Psychology, Associate Professor, Altai State Pedagogical University (AltSPU), Barnaul, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9648-1514, e-mail: guryanova09@mail.ru

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