Temporal Consistency and Stability of Three Scales for Measuring Stress in Adults

Abstract

We investigated the 30-min. temporal consistency and temporal stability of three focal scales for measuring stress: the Cognitive Anxiety Scale-State, the Focusing Inventory Scale-State, and the Somatic Symptom Scale-State. These scales are applicable for individually measured reduction in stress in research on outcome with older adolescents and adults. All possess excellent internal consistency. All manifested significant temporal consistency and good to excellent temporal stability over 30 min. in a nonclinical sample of 60 undergraduates. Small significant differences in means on the Cognitive Anxiety Scale-State and the Somatic Symptom Scale-State were noted. The phenomenological states associated with stress were stable and consistent over 30 min., the optimal time interval used in research on stress.