Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the Levenstein perceived stress questionnaire in both temporal versions in a sample of Ecuadorian adults

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to linguistically and culturally adapt Levenstein's Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) into Ecuadorian Spanish and to examine the psychometric properties of both its general (past 1-2 years) and recent (past month) temporal versions. METHODS: A five-phase instrumental design was implemented across four independent samples (total N = 1386). Phase 1 involved standardized translation, back-translation, and expert review, followed by an initial pilot administration (n = 300) using non-probability convenience sampling to identify comprehension and cultural-adequacy issues, with predominant representation of health and education professionals. Phase 2 (n = 300) evaluated the resulting linguistic adjustments prior to the factorial analyses. Phase 3 conducted Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA; n = 395) using principal axis factoring with Oblimin rotation, with factor retention determined by parallel analysis. Phase 4 performed Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA; n = 391) evaluating model fit and internal consistency via Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega. Phase 5 evaluated multigroup factorial invariance by biological sex. RESULTS: The adaptation yielded two refined versions of the PSQ. The general version retained 22 items in a three-correlated-factor structure: Perceived Overload and Pressure, Well-being and Personal Resources, and Alienation and Relational Disconnection (EFA variance explained: 40.44%). The recent version comprised 23 items across four factors, with Pressure and Worry emerging as a distinct dimension (EFA variance explained: 54.97%). Both versions demonstrated excellent internal consistency (general: α =0.891, ω = 0.907; recent: α = 0.911, ω = 0.918) and satisfactory confirmatory fit indices (general: CFI = 0.950, RMSEA = 0.064; recent: CFI = 0.950, RMSEA = 0.061). Configural, metric, and scalar invariance across sex groups, re-estimated with WLSMV, showed negligible fit deterioration (ΔCFI ≤ 0.005) in both versions, now on configural baselines with good absolute fit (CFI = 0.949 general; CFI = 0.946 recent); residual (strict) invariance was not separately testable under this ordinal estimator. Evidence of convergent and discriminant validity was not obtained in the present study, representing a primary limitation. CONCLUSIONS: The PSQ-593 demonstrates adequate structural validity and internal consistency for assessing perceived stress across two temporal frames in the Ecuadorian population. Its dual temporal structure offers differentiated utility for epidemiological research, longitudinal studies, and intervention evaluation. Future research should establish convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity, and replicate the factorial structures in samples more broadly representative of the Ecuadorian population.