More than a (negative) feeling: Validity of the perceived stress scale in Serbian clinical and non-clinical samples

The goal of the present study was to test the validity of a Serbian version of the Perceived Stress Scale. The PSS was administered to 157 psychiatric outpatients, 165 adults from the non-clinical population, and 283 university students. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis supported a bifactor model of the PSS with one general factor and two specific factors reflecting perceived distress and perceived self-efficacy. Internal consistencies of the scale and its two subscales were adequate across clinical and non-clinical samples. Results supported the ability of the scale to discriminate between clinical and non-clinical samples. The PSS evidenced good convergent validity, showing moderate to high positive correlations with measures of unpleasant emotional states and moderate negative correlations with positive affect and life satisfaction. All but one correlation remained significant after controlling for the measures of emotional distress. The results of the present research support validity of the PSS and its use in both clinical and non-clinical samples.