The D-stress scale: a measure of stress based on a new approach

The perceived stress scale (PSS-10) assumes that stress results from perceived situational demands exceeding the perceived coping resources. However, today's hectic lifestyles may lead to stress even when demands can be met. We aimed to assess a new measure of stress, the D-Stress scale, which focuses on feelings of relentless pressure, irrespective of the coping resources. We administered our 10-item questionnaire to 1099 French-speaking adults (455 men, 642 women), aged 18-29 years, using an online platform (May-July 2022). Participants also completed the PSS-10 and measures of depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and correlations were run. The D-Stress scores correlated highly with the PSS-10 perceived helplessness subscale (r = 0.714; 95% CI 0.684-0.742), thus supporting the construct validity. The exploratory factor analysis revealed three underlying factors: one that related to experiencing external pressures (subscale 1), another that related to putting pressure on oneself (subscale 2), and a third that related to exhaustion (subscale 3). Subscale 1 was most strongly linked to depression/anxiety; the other two subscales were more strongly linked to demographic characteristics. The D-Stress scale can rapidly assess stress and could identify underlying sources to help target interventions.