RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF THE TURKISH VERSION OF PERCEIVED STRESS SCALE*

The purpose of this study was to adapt for Turkish population by tested validity and reliability of Perceived Stress. The population of the research studied as psychometric was adults who applied to Veyis Efendi Primary Health Care Centre between 1 Mach and 30 May 2004. The sample of this research was 138 persons who accepted participation to study and was selected with convenience sampling. The data of the research was collected by the researcher using Perceived Stress Scale and inquiry form including demographic characteristics. The scale developed by Cohen and his colleagues in 1983 consists of 10 items and it is easy understandable. The items of the scale are scored 1-5 points. The four items are scored as positive; the six items are scored as negative. Evaluation of the scale score is made by sum point. In statistical analysis of the data, factor, Cronbach’s alpha, correlation analyses were used. In the results of analyses, it was found that Pearson’s product-moment correlation changed from 0.32 to 0.66, alpha was 0.70. Factor loading of the scale’s items ranged from 0.41 to 0.70, and the scale resulted in one factor structure. Overall explained variance for this factor model was 58.1%, and test-retest correlation was 0.88. Light of the finding, it is said that Perceived Stress Scale is validity and reliability for Turkish population