Confusion between stress and state anxiety in a much used self-report ‘stress’ inventory

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The validity of the interpretation of the ‘stress’ scale of the Stress Arousal Check List (SACL) is questioned. Its similarity and high correlation with Spielberger's STAI ‘state anxiety’ scale is demonstrated. It is argued that the ‘stress’ scale does not measure any stress factors as defined by the theoretical model presented by Cox ( Stress, 1978). It assesses aspects of worry and anticipatory fear rather than either a general emotional stress reaction of unease or a compound of the wide range of emotional reactions associated with stress.