The Development of the Student Stressors and Emotional Disturbance Scale

Project Innovation, Inc. P.O. Box 8508 Spring Hill Station, Mobile, AL 36689-0508. Tel: 251-343-1878; Fax: 251-343-1878; Web site: http://www.projectinnovation.biz/csj.html

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Stress Variables; College Students; Emotional Response; Emotional Problems; Psychometrics; Online Surveys; Factor Analysis; Test Construction; Money Management; Leisure Time; Self Concept; Family Relationship; Friendship; Place of Residence; Sleep; Psychological Patterns; Statistical Analysis; Foreign Countries

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It is well established in the literature that the years spent in university or college are deemed to be one of the most stressful periods of life (Hales, 2009). As a result, researchers are striving to create inventories to measure stress, isolate the determinants of stress and the psychological and health outcomes. The purpose of the present study was to not only develop a scale which identified those domains which appear to be the sources of stress for college students but also to determine the consequences or outcomes of the experienced stress. The data collected from approximately 1,200 college and university students yielded very interesting results in the form of a two-factor Student Stressors and Emotional Distress Scale (SSEDS) which identified (a) sources of student stress and, (b) outcomes of student stress in the form of emotional disturbances. As with previous studies, the sources of stress include, finances, school, leisure activities, self-image, body image, family, friends, living arrangements and quality of sleep. Emotional outcomes included, tiredness, nervousness, hopelessness, sadness, depression, effort and worthlessness. The psychometric properties of the scale are examined.

As Provided

50

2016

EJ1104184