Forensic Professionals' Stress Inventory (FPSI): Development and psychometric properties.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Psychology
• Occupational Health
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Justice system professionals experience high occupational stress and burnout.
• Existing measures may not fully capture the unique stressors faced by forensic professionals.
• The need for a specialized, psychometrically sound assessment tool is evident.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Forensic Professional's Stress Inventory (FPSI).
• To assess occupational stress and psychological distress in justice system professionals.
• To establish the psychometric properties of the FPSI.

Main Methods:

• A preliminary 41-item scale was administered to 690 forensic professionals.
• Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) were used.
• Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) validated the final scale structure.

Main Results:

• A 25-item bifactor model with four first-order factors demonstrated the best fit.
• The FPSI showed adequate psychometric properties.
• The instrument effectively measures psychological strain in forensic professionals.

Conclusions:

• The 25-item FPSI is a psychometrically sound instrument.
• FPSI is a valuable tool for assessing stress and psychological strain in justice system professionals.
• The findings support the use of FPSI in research and clinical practice within forensic settings.