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

• Main Authors: Atsuhiko Ota, Yuanying Li, Akari Masuda, Ayako Yabashi, Mamiko Morita, Atsuko Minagawa, Hiroshi Yatsuya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Fujita Medical Society 2016-05-01
• Series: Fujita Medical Journal
• Subjects: psychosocial stressors; the modified stressor scale for college student (m-sscs); validity; reliability; medical and medical science students
• Online Access: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/fmj/2/2/2_25/_pdf/-char/en

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.