How Do We Measure Stress in Latinos in the United States? A Systematic Review

Background: Previous research has documented that Latinos report higher levels of stress than other ethnicities and are an increasing portion of the demographics of the United States. While there are many measures to assess stress and other stress-related conditions, there are no systematic reviews to date to assess whether the current measures of generalized stress are valid or reliable in Latinos in the United States. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the current state of the literature assessing the psychometric properties in stress measures in this population. Methods: We used Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to review the literature from January 1990 to May 2020 for studies, which measured the psychometric properties of scales measuring generalized stress in Latinos in the United States. Results: Twelve studies measured the psychometric properties of eight scales of generalized stress. The 10-item Perceived Stress Scale, the Hispanic Stress Inventory, the Hispanic Women's Social Stressor Scale, and the Family Obligation Stress Scale show the strongest reliability and validity for measuring stress in Latinos in the United States. Most studies were done in traditional immigration destinations in the United States. Conclusion: While four scales which show acceptable reliability and validity for measuring stress in Latinos in the United States, continuing to develop and further validate these scales within Latino communities will be critical to understand and address Latino stress more comprehensively. Our findings can inform health research and clinical interventions for this at-risk community.