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Validation of the irritation scale on a representative German sample: new normative data
Maria S Gralla1, Harald Guendel2, Andreas Mueller3
1Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Clinical Center, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Germany. maria.gralla.research@posteo.de.
Scientific Reports
|September 16, 2023
Summary
The irritation scale effectively measures work-related stress. New German data show lower irritation levels than previously thought, providing better benchmarks for workplace well-being assessments.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health Psychology
- Psychometrics
Background:
- The irritation scale is a validated tool for assessing work-related cognitive and emotional strain.
- Existing normative data lack representativeness due to reliance on convenience samples.
- A need exists for updated, representative normative data for the irritation scale.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish new, representative normative data for the irritation scale using a German sample.
- To validate the irritation scale's convergent and discriminant validity against various psychological and work-related measures.
Main Methods:
- A representative sample of 1480 individuals from the German workforce participated.
- The irritation scale was administered alongside measures of depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms, psychological functioning, stressors, and resources.
- Statistical analyses were performed to establish normative data and assess validity.
Main Results:
- The new normative data reveal a significantly lower overall level of irritation in the German workforce compared to prior studies.
- Convergent and discriminant validity were confirmed through correlations with depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms, psychological functioning, work stressors, and individual resources.
- The findings support the utility of the irritation scale and offer improved benchmarks.
Conclusions:
- The study provides crucial, representative normative data for the irritation scale in a German context.
- These updated benchmarks are essential for accurate assessment and prevention of work-related stress.
- The irritation scale remains a valuable instrument for measuring workplace strain, with enhanced reliability due to new normative data.
