The Perceived Stress Scale for Kids (PeSSKi): Initial development of a brief measure for children aged 7-11 years

Perceived stress, a known risk factor for poor health, has been extensively assessed in adult populations. Yet an equivalent assessment tool for measurement of global perceived stress in children is lacking. This study aimed to develop and provide initial validation of a scale to measure perceived stress in children aged 7-11 years. Using a two-phase design, we conducted semi-structured interviews with thirteen child-parent dyads for development of items. In a sample of 123 children (age range 7-11 years, Mage = 9 years 7 months, 54.5% male) we administered the resulting Perceived Stress Scale for Kids (PeSSKi). Exploratory factor analysis of the 10-item PeSSKi yielded support for both a one-factor and a two-factor solution (negative, positive item wording). The PeSSKi was associated positively with the Penn-State Worry Questionnaire for Children (r = 0.748, p < 0.001) and negatively with the Students' Life Satisfaction Scale (r = 0.381, p < 0.001) indicating strong convergent/divergent validity respectively. Girls showed higher scores on the PeSSKi than boys with no effects observed by age. Initial psychometrics suggest the PeSSKi provides a robust scale for assessment of perceived stress in children. Further validation is needed across different child populations, over time and with physical measures of stress and health outcomes.