A Brief Stress Diagnostic Tool: The Short Stress Overload Scale. (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Amirkhan, James H.
• Is Part Of: Assessment. Volume 25:Number 8(2018)
• Page Start: 1001
• Page End: 1013
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: stress measure -- stress overload -- validity -- SOS-S -- SOS -- PSS-10; Psychological tests -- Periodicals; Psychodiagnostics -- Periodicals; Personality tests -- Periodicals; 150.287
• DOI: 10.1177/1073191116673173
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1073-1911

Abstract

The Stress Overload Scale (SOS) has demonstrated validity in predicting pathological stress reactions; however, at 30 items, it is lengthy for some clinical applications. Here, two studies tested a 10-item SOS–Short (SOS-S). First, the SOS-S was compared with the SOS in a longitudinal community study ( n = 391), using indices of pathology as criterion measures. Results showed the SOS-S to be equivalent to the SOS in reliability and concurrent and predictive validity, although not quite as sensitive to somatic symptoms. Second, the SOS-S was compared to the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale in a cross-sectional community study ( n = 249), in which symptoms and response biases were also assessed. Results showed both measures to be susceptible to biasing, and the SOS-S to demonstrate superior validity when biases were controlled. The SOS-S appears a viable alternative to the SOS and the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale for assessing stress, and risk for sequelae, across a broad demographic spectrum.