Validation of a Short Stress State Questionnaire

Abstract

Stress is an important aspect of operational settings. This article presents two studies providing initial psychometric and validation evidence of a short multidimensional self-report measure of stress state, the Short Stress State Questionnaire (SSSQ) based on the Dundee Stress State Questionnaire (DSSQ; Matthews et al., 1999, 2002). The first study involved the construction and exploration of the factor structure of the SSSQ using data pooled from three samples. These factor analyses differentiated three aspects of subjective stress similar to the DSSQ: Task Engagement, Distress, and Worry. The second study aimed at providing validity information on the SSSQ in regards to its sensitivity to task-stressors. Different task conditions elicited unique patterns of stress state on the three factors of the SSSQ in line with predictions. The 24-item SSSQ appears to be a useful measure of stress state based on the substantially longer DSSQ from which it was derived.