Development of the Stress Response Inventory

Koh, Kyung Bong; Park, Joong Kyu; Kim, Chan Hyung

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to develop the stress response inventory (SRI) which includes emotional, somatic, cognitive, and behavioral stress responses, and then to use the scale in clinical pracitice.
METHODS
First, a preliminary survey was conducted for 109 healthy adults to obtain 70 response items. Second, a preliminary questionnaire was completed by 215 healthy subjects. Third, a comparison was made regarding stress responses among 242 patients (71 with anxiety disorder, 73 with depressive disorder, 47 with somatoform disorder, and 51 with psychosomatic disorder) and 215 healthy subjects.
RESULTS
Factor analysis yielded 7 subscales: tension, aggression, somatization, anger, depression, fatigue and frustration. Reliability was computed by administering the SRI to 62 healthy subjects during a 2-week interval. Test-retest reliability for 7 subscales and the total score was significantly high, ranging between 0.69-.96. Internal consistency was computed, and Cronbach's alpha for 7 subscales ranged between .76-.91 and .97 for the total score. Concurrent validity was computed by correlating the 7 subscales and the total score with the total score of the global assessment of recent stress (GARS) scale, the perceived stress questionnaire (PSQ), and the symptom checklist-90-revised (SCL-90-R). The correlations were all at significant levels. Discriminant validity was computed by comparing the total score and the 7 subscale scores of the patient and control groups. Significant differences were found for 6 subscales and the total score, with the exception being the aggression subscale. The depressive disorder group was highest in total scores of SRI among 4 patient groups, and showed a significant higher scores in total scores of SRI than each of anxiety disorder and psychosomatic disorder groups. In total scores of SRI, female subjects were significantly higher than male ones, and subjects with lower income were significantly higher than those with higher income.
CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that the SRI is highly reliable and valid, and that it can be utilized as an effective measure of stress for research in stress-related fields. It is suggested that depressive disorder group is more susceptible to stress than any other patient groups.