Psychometric properties of the Perceived Stress Scale for Children (PSS-C)

<p>The article presents the results of a psychometric analysis of the Perceived Stress Scale for Children (PSS-C), developed by B.P. White. The scale was designed to evaluate the degree of perceived stress in children and is similar to perceived stress scales used in adult populations. Psychometric analysis is crucial for diagnosing children's stress experiences and for the frequent use of the scale in research. The study was conducted on a sample of 635 children, aged 6 to 8.3 years (mean=6.73; SD=0.38), who were enrolled in preschool educational institutions. Respondents completed the Perceived Stress Scale and an anxiety test (R. Tamml, M. Dorki, and V. Amen). The research was conducted individually, adhering to ethical guidelines. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to assess the structure of the PSS-C, resulting in the identification of two distinct factors: Distress and General Well-being. The reliability indices (Cronbach's alpha) for the Distress subscale and the General Well-being subscale were 0.74 and 0.61, respectively. The unique properties of the subscales within the Perceived Stress Scale for Children serve to prevent their amalgamation into a singular factor, while still allowing for the derivation of a general indicator of perceived stress. The General Well-being subscale correlates negatively with the anxiety score, while the general perceived stress score correlates positively. Overall, the psychometric analysis of the Perceived Stress Scale for Children allows its use as a tool for addressing research problems.</p>