Reliability and Validity of Turkish Version of the COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Perceived Stress Scale among Nursing Students

Objective: This study aimed to adapt the COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Perceived Stress Scale, which is used to evaluate the prevalence of perceived stress and variables associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, into Turkish and test its validity and reliability on nursing students. Methods: Methodological-descriptive-cross-sectional design. The data were collected using the “Sociodemographic Data Form” bearing the introductory information and the COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Perceived Stress Scale. The sample of this methodological-descriptive-cross-sectional study consisted of 412 students studying at the Nursing Department affiliated to the Faculty of Health Sciences in the spring semester of the 2021-2022 academic year and volunteered to participate in the study. Language, content, face, and construct validity were investigated in the adaptation and testing phases; internal consistency and test-retest methods were used for the reliability of the scale. Results: The fit index of the COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Perceived Stress Scale was found to be above 0.80 in terms of both items and the scale. The results of the content validity analysis revealed that the scale confirmed the language and content validity. The scale measures the subject as adequately as the original construct for the Turkish sample. Conclusions: The scale is confirmed to be a valid and reliable tool that can be used to evaluate the current mental state/problems.