Validity and reliability of the Modified Stressor Scale for College Student among medical and medical science students in a private university in Japan

Objectives: To modify the Stressor Scale for College Student (SSCS) by including extracurricular activity-related stressors and to examine the validity and reliability of the Modified SSCS (M-SSCS) to evaluate psychosocial stressors in medical and medical science students. Methods: Third-year medical students (n = 103) and fourth-year medical technology students (n = 95) completed a cross-sectional questionnaire survey. We examined the factorial structure of the M-SSCS using factor analysis. Concurrent validity was assessed by examining the associations of M-SSCS scores with self-rated health status, K6 scale scores, and State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was calculated to evaluate the reliability of the M-SSCS. Results: Factor analysis yielded seven factors. Stressors related to family, friends, part-time jobs, and extracurricular activity formed independent factors, but study- and fulfillment-related stressors were not distinct. High M-SSCS scores, indicating greater stressor levels, were significantly associated with poor self-rated health status (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence intervals] = 2.80 [1.08, 7.25], p = 0.034), high K6 scale scores (2.99 [1.00, 8.96], p = 0.050), and high STAI state anxiety (3.32 [1.35, 8.20], p = 0.009) and trait anxiety scores (2.69 [1.31, 5.51], p = 0.007). Cronbach’ s alpha coefficient was 0.916. Conclusions: The M-SSCS showed good concurrent validity and internal consistency in assessing psychosocial stressors in medical and medical technology students. However, further studies are necessary to fully determine the validity of the M-SSCS.

Abstract licence: CC BY

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