Abstract
Background Stress affects people of all ages, genders, and cultures and is associated with physical and psychological complications. Stressful life events are an important research focus and a psychometrically valid measure could provide useful clinical information. The purpose of the study was to develop a reliable and valid measurement of stressful life events and to assess its reliability and validity using established measures of social support, stress, depression, anxiety and maternal and child health. Methods The authors used an adaptation from the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) to describe the prevalence of life events; they developed a 4-factor stressful life events subscales and used Medical Outcomes Social Support Scale, Social Support Scale, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale and 14 general health items for validity analysis. Analyses were performed with descriptive statistics, Cronbach's alpha, Spearman's rho, Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test and Wilcoxon 2-sample test. Results The 4-factor stressful life events subscales showed acceptable reliability. The resulting subscale scores were significantly associated with established measures of social support, depression, anxiety, stress, and caregiver health indicators. Limitations The study presented a number of limitations in terms of design and recall bias. Conclusions Despite the presence of a number of limitations, the study provided valuable insight and suggested that further investigation is needed in order to determine the effectiveness of the measures in revealing the family's wellbeing and to develop and strengthen a more detailed analysis of the stressful life events/health association.
| Language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages | 178-187 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of Affective Disorders |
| Volume | 226 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 15 2018 |
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Keywords
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Factor analysis
- Life events
- Social support
- Stress
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
Cite this
Development and assessment of stressful life events subscales – A preliminary analysis. / the STRONG Kids Research Team.
In: Journal of Affective Disorders, Vol. 226, 15.01.2018, p. 178-187.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Development and assessment of stressful life events subscales – A preliminary analysis
AU - the STRONG Kids Research Team
AU - Buccheri, Teresa
AU - Musaad, Salma
AU - Freeman Bost, Kelly K
AU - Fiese, Barbara
PY - 2018/1/15
Y1 - 2018/1/15
N2 - Background Stress affects people of all ages, genders, and cultures and is associated with physical and psychological complications. Stressful life events are an important research focus and a psychometrically valid measure could provide useful clinical information. The purpose of the study was to develop a reliable and valid measurement of stressful life events and to assess its reliability and validity using established measures of social support, stress, depression, anxiety and maternal and child health. Methods The authors used an adaptation from the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) to describe the prevalence of life events; they developed a 4-factor stressful life events subscales and used Medical Outcomes Social Support Scale, Social Support Scale, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale and 14 general health items for validity analysis. Analyses were performed with descriptive statistics, Cronbach's alpha, Spearman's rho, Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test and Wilcoxon 2-sample test. Results The 4-factor stressful life events subscales showed acceptable reliability. The resulting subscale scores were significantly associated with established measures of social support, depression, anxiety, stress, and caregiver health indicators. Limitations The study presented a number of limitations in terms of design and recall bias. Conclusions Despite the presence of a number of limitations, the study provided valuable insight and suggested that further investigation is needed in order to determine the effectiveness of the measures in revealing the family's wellbeing and to develop and strengthen a more detailed analysis of the stressful life events/health association.
AB - Background Stress affects people of all ages, genders, and cultures and is associated with physical and psychological complications. Stressful life events are an important research focus and a psychometrically valid measure could provide useful clinical information. The purpose of the study was to develop a reliable and valid measurement of stressful life events and to assess its reliability and validity using established measures of social support, stress, depression, anxiety and maternal and child health. Methods The authors used an adaptation from the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) to describe the prevalence of life events; they developed a 4-factor stressful life events subscales and used Medical Outcomes Social Support Scale, Social Support Scale, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale and 14 general health items for validity analysis. Analyses were performed with descriptive statistics, Cronbach's alpha, Spearman's rho, Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test and Wilcoxon 2-sample test. Results The 4-factor stressful life events subscales showed acceptable reliability. The resulting subscale scores were significantly associated with established measures of social support, depression, anxiety, stress, and caregiver health indicators. Limitations The study presented a number of limitations in terms of design and recall bias. Conclusions Despite the presence of a number of limitations, the study provided valuable insight and suggested that further investigation is needed in order to determine the effectiveness of the measures in revealing the family's wellbeing and to develop and strengthen a more detailed analysis of the stressful life events/health association.
KW - Anxiety
KW - Depression
KW - Factor analysis
KW - Life events
KW - Social support
KW - Stress
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85030675079&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85030675079&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2017.09.046
DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2017.09.046
M3 - Article
VL - 226
SP - 178
EP - 187
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders
T2 - Journal of Affective Disorders
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders
SN - 0165-0327
ER -