Malay Perceived Stress Scale: COVID-19 Translation and Validation

| Posted in: Science

Journal name: The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences
Original article title: Translation and Validation of the Malay Perceived Stress Scale Modified for COVID-19
The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences (MJMS) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal published online at least six times a year. It covers all aspects of medical sciences and prioritizes high-quality research.
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Original source:

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Author:

Norhayati Ibrahim, Andrea Wong, Choy Qing Cham, Sin Yee Chu, Clarisse Roswini Kalaman, Ching Sin Siau


The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences:

(A peer-reviewed, open-access journal)

Full text available for: Translation and Validation of the Malay Perceived Stress Scale Modified for COVID-19

Year: 2023 | Doi: 10.21315/mjms2023.30.2.15

Copyright (license): CC BY 4.0


Download the PDF file of the original publication


Summary of article contents:

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental health of individuals around the globe, with heightened stress levels particularly noted in populations such as Malaysian youths. As the Malaysian government implemented the Movement Control Order (MCO) in March 2020, many experienced psychological distress exacerbated by social isolation, economic uncertainties, and fears associated with the virus. In response to this emerging issue, researchers aimed to develop and validate the Malay Perceived Stress Scale modified for COVID-19 (PSS-10-C), enabling local assessments of stress related to the pandemic within the Malaysian context.

The Importance of Psychometric Validity

One critical finding of the study was the establishment of the validity and reliability of the Malay PSS-10-C. The scale demonstrated a two-factor solution consisting of "distress" and "coping" domains, with a cumulative variance of 65.2%. This finding was supported by factor analyses indicating effective distribution of items across these dimensions. Moreover, the scale exhibited strong internal consistency, indicated by a Cronbach's alpha of 0.855, making it a reliable tool for assessing perceived stress among Malaysian youths, especially in the context of the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic.

Conclusion

The Malay PSS-10-C is a robust and valid instrument for measuring perceived stress among Malaysian youths due to COVID-19, fulfilling an essential gap in mental health assessment during a crisis. The findings emphasize the need for effective mental health screening tools to address the psychological well-being of populations affected by global health crises. The establishment of a reliable scale enables researchers and healthcare professionals to better understand and support the mental health needs of individuals navigating the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic. Further studies may enhance the generalizability and utility of the PSS-10-C across diverse Malaysian demographics.

FAQ section (important questions/answers):

What is the purpose of the Malay PSS-10-C study?

The study aimed to validate the Malay Perceived Stress Scale modified for COVID-19 (PSS-10-C) to assess perceived stress among Malaysian youths during the pandemic and to explore its psychometric properties.

What methodology was used in the validation process?

The validation involved a cross-sectional study design with two phases: translation into Malay using the forward-backward method and assessing validity through exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis with various participant groups.

What were the main findings regarding the scale's validity?

The study identified a two-factor solution, 'distress' and 'coping', explaining 65.2% of the variance. Concurrent validity showed a moderate correlation with the Beck Hopelessness Scale, supporting its effectiveness.

How reliable is the Malay PSS-10-C according to the study?

The Malay PSS-10-C demonstrated good internal consistency reliability with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.855, indicating it is a reliable tool for measuring perceived stress among youths in Malaysia.

Glossary definitions and references:

Scientific and Ayurvedic Glossary list for “Malay Perceived Stress Scale: COVID-19 Translation and Validation”. This list explains important keywords that occur in this article and links it to the glossary for a better understanding of that concept in the context of Ayurveda and other topics.

1) Study (Studying):
In the context of research, a 'study' refers to a systematic investigation aimed at understanding phenomena. Studies can involve gathering data, assessing variables, and drawing conclusions based on empirical evidence. In the abstract provided, the study explores the validation of a stress scale for Malaysian youths amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

2) Table:
A 'table' is a method of organizing and presenting data systematically in rows and columns. In research papers, tables help in summarizing and displaying findings such as participant demographics, study results, and statistical analyses. They allow readers to access and interpret data efficiently and intuitively.

3) Reliability:
Reliability in research refers to the consistency and stability of a measurement instrument over time and across various groups. High reliability ensures that the results are replicable and trustworthy. In the context of this study, reliability is assessed to confirm that the validated Malay PSS-10-C scale is a dependable tool for measuring perceived stress.

4) Saya (Shaya):
'Saya' is the Malay word for 'I' or 'me', used as a personal pronoun. This word is significant in surveys and questionnaires, where respondents express their thoughts or feelings. Including culturally appropriate language ensures that participants can relate to and understand the questions posed in assessments like the PSS-10-C.

5) Epidemic:
An 'epidemic' refers to a rapid increase in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in a given population within a specific area. The COVID-19 pandemic triggered widespread public health concerns, affecting mental health and well-being, making it vital to understand its perceived impact through scales like the PSS-10-C.

6) Rasa (Rasha):
'Rasa' means 'feeling' or 'taste' in Malay and is critical in studies evaluating emotions, perceptions, and psychological states. In the PSS-10-C validation, 'rasa' may be involved in gauging how individuals feel about stressors stemming from the COVID-19 context, enriching the understanding of subjective experiences.

7) Fear:
Fear is a basic emotion often linked to perceived threats and can significantly affect mental health and well-being. In the context of this study, understanding fear, especially related to the COVID-19 pandemic, is fundamental to assessing its impact on stress levels among individuals using the validated scale.

8) Life:
Life encompasses the existence and experiences of individuals. In research, context matters; understanding life experiences helps in evaluating psychological aspects. In this study, how life has altered during the pandemic, particularly for Malaysian youths, informs the relevance of the Malay PSS-10-C in assessing perceived stress.

9) Disease:
A 'disease' illustrates a condition that impairs bodily functioning and can derive from various factors including biological, psychological, and environmental influences. In this research context, COVID-19 is a critical disease that has influenced stress levels across populations, thus necessitating instruments like the PSS-10-C to measure its impact accurately.

10) Depression:
Depression is a mental health disorder characterized by persistent sadness and loss of interest. It can be exacerbated by stressful events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. By identifying and quantifying perceived stress through the PSS-10-C, researchers can correlate stress levels with depression symptoms, informing mental health strategies.

11) Mental health:
Mental health pertains to cognitive, emotional, and social well-being. It influences how people think, feel, and act, thereby impacting everyday functions. This study emphasizes the significance of monitoring mental health, particularly during stressful situations like a pandemic, to develop effective interventions and resources for affected individuals.

12) Language:
Language is a primary medium for communication and expression of emotions. In psychometric studies, adapted language for questionnaires allows for accurate understanding and responses from participants. The Malay adaptation of the PSS-10-C is crucial for effectively measuring perceived stress in a linguistically and culturally relevant manner.

13) Measurement:
Measurement in psychology refers to quantifying psychological constructs, such as stress, through reliable instruments. This study focuses on validating a measurement tool, the Malay PSS-10-C, to ensure it accurately reflects perceived stress levels among Malaysian youth during the COVID-19 pandemic, contributing to empirical research advancements.

14) Anxiety:
Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. This study reflects on anxiety's relation to stress, especially during challenging times like a pandemic, reinforcing the need for tools like the PSS-10-C to measure perceived stress accurately.

15) Science (Scientific):
Scientific pertains to methodologies grounded in empirical evidence and objectivity. In this research, the scientific approach encompasses establishing validity and reliability of the Malay PSS-10-C, ensuring the scale adheres to rigorous standards, ultimately contributing to the body of knowledge on perceived stress measurements.

16) Rules:
Rules in a research context refer to the established norms and protocols guiding the methodological approaches within studies. This research followed strict methodological rules, including sampling, data collection, and analysis procedures, ensuring rigor and validity in assessing the Malay PSS-10-C for perceived stress measurement.

17) Sage:
Sage often refers to a wise person or scholar and can also denote an authoritative body in knowledge. In research, drawing from the expertise of sages in psychology helps refine the development and validation processes of measurement tools, enhancing their robustness and applicability across different populations.

18) Viru:
Though not clearly defined in the given context, 'viru' could denote 'virus,' referring to the causative agents of diseases, such as SARS-CoV-2 responsible for COVID-19. Understanding the implications of a virus on population health is fundamental to stress research during pandemics, as seen in the validated scale usage.

19) Education:
Education involves the processes of teaching and learning, fostering knowledge and skills. The study's implications extend to educational settings, as understanding youth stress during the pandemic can inform educators and institutions about the emotional well-being of students, prompting support systems within academic environments.

20) Indian:
Though this specific term did not directly relate to the study context, 'Indian' could refer to studies or samples representing Indian populations in stress measurement. Comparative research across ethnicities can reveal cultural differences in stress responses, enhancing the understanding of how different communities experience and perceive stress.

21) Performance:
Performance in research context relates to how well a measurement tool functions or how effectively individuals respond to stress-inducing situations. This study is focused on the performance of the Malay PSS-10-C in accurately reflecting perceived stress levels during the pandemic, thereby guiding future psychological evaluations.

22) Relative:
Relative typically indicates the connection or comparison between concepts or entities. In this context, understanding the relative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health through various indicators like stress levels underscores the need for comparative analyses, enhancing insights into different populations' experiences.

23) Lakshmi (Laksmi):
Lakshmi, a name of Indian origin signifying prosperity and well-being, may appear in research literature. Research mentioning 'Lakshmi' could indicate studies exploring mental health across various cultures, highlighting the importance of diverse perspectives in stress research, especially concerning societal beliefs surrounding well-being amidst challenges.

24) Quality:
Quality in research pertains to the degree to which a measurement instrument accurately reflects the construct it is intended to measure. The validation process of the Malay PSS-10-C emphasizes quality assurance in measuring perceived stress among youths, ensuring that the outcomes are both reliable and valid.

25) Rampal:
Rampal, likely a surname, refers to authors or researchers contributing to mental health studies. Understanding backgrounds of different researchers can highlight diverse perspectives and methodologies in stress measurement, enhancing the robustness and cultural validity of assessments like the PSS-10-C across various populations.

26) Chinna:
Chinna, as a name, may represent one of the researchers involved in the study, bringing unique expertise to the research team. Collaborations in research can yield diverse insights, enriching the study with multifaceted interpretations of stress measurements in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

27) Vela:
The term 'Vela' may refer to a researcher or a construct in psychological literature. Similar to other names, understanding individuals who contribute to stress research emphasizes collaborative efforts in developing comprehensive measurement tools, which uphold cultural relevance in assessing perceived stress during significant events like a pandemic.

28) Mota:
Mota, potentially a researcher’s name, symbolizes involvement in psychological studies. Engaging a variety of experts in research enables a comprehensive approach to stress analysis, fostering collaboration among scholars to refine tools such as the PSS-10-C for culturally diverse contexts, particularly regarding perceptions of stress.

29) Hair:
Hair is the surname of an influential researcher in the field of statistical analysis, particularly in methodologies for data analysis. His work contributes to psychometric evaluations, ensuring rigorous standards for the impact assessments of measurement tools, like the PSS-10-C, on perceived stress during critical times.

30) Post:
The term 'post' commonly signifies after, indicating something that occurs subsequent to an event. In research, 'post' may refer to evaluations conducted after a significant occurrence, such as the changes in stress levels after the implementation of COVID-19 control measures, as articulated in this study.

31) Male:
Male refers to the biological sex often categorized in research studies. Understanding the male demographic’s responses to stress like perceived stress levels can reveal critical insights into gender-related disparities in coping with crises, contributing to tailored mental health interventions informed by gender-specific findings.

32) Perception:
Perception encompasses how individuals interpret and experience stimuli, including emotions and stressors. The study aims to understand youths' perceptions of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic through the Malay PSS-10-C, facilitating insights into how these perceptions affect their mental health and coping mechanisms.

33) Discussion:
Discussion in research refers to the section where findings are interpreted and implications are explored. It is essential for contextualizing results, addressing limitations, and proposing future research directions. In this study, discussion surrounding the validation of the Malay PSS-10-C further outlines its significance and applicability.

34) Accumulation (Accumulating, Accumulate):
Accumulate refers to the gathering or increasing of elements over time. In this study, stress levels can accumulate from various daily pressures exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding this process is essential for assessing prolonged mental health impacts and developing strategies for managing such cumulative stress.

35) Worry (Worried, Worrying):
Worrying indicates anxiety regarding potential future events. This state can significantly impact mental health, especially during crises such as a pandemic. By evaluating worrying behaviors among respondents using the Malay PSS-10-C, researchers can identify specific stressors and potentially tailor interventions to alleviate these concerns.

36) Meeting:
A 'meeting' refers to a convocation of individuals for discussions or deliberations. In research, meetings among scholars and stakeholders can play a crucial role in refining research instruments and approaches. Collaborative meetings ensure all facets of study design, such as cultural adaptations are well-considered and addressed.

37) Citizen:
Citizen pertains to individuals recognized as members of a specific nation, possessing rights and responsibilities. Understanding the stress levels among Malaysian citizens during the pandemic, as explored in this study, is vital for devising public health strategies and support systems tailored to citizens' needs during crises.

38) Flag:
In the context of this study, 'flag' could signify a warning signal or an urgent indicator pertaining to mental health issues arising from the pandemic. Recognizing significant spikes in stress levels amongst youths serves as a crucial flag for health professionals to implement timely interventions.

Other Science Concepts:

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Discover the significance of concepts within the article: ‘Malay Perceived Stress Scale: COVID-19 Translation and Validation’. Further sources in the context of Science might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:

Mental health, Distress, Validity and reliability, Psychological impact, Informed consent, Statistical analysis, Mental well-being, Research purpose, University students, Subject Matter Expert, General population, Study sample, Cronbach's alpha, Study design, Cross-sectional study, Perceived Stress Scale, COVID 19, COVID-19 Pandemic, Convenience sampling, Study participants, Ethics approval, Psychometric properties, Stress, Female to male ratio, Statistical analyses, Positive correlation, Perceived stress, Factor analysis, Convergent validity, Stress scale, Global health, Socioeconomic impact, Social distancing measures, Social distancing, Global health emergency, Internal Consistency, Exploratory Factor Analysis, Validation, Demographic detail, Stress symptoms, Descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient, Validation Process, Pearson Correlation, Questionnaire, Pandemic, Internal consistency reliability, Strengths and limitations, Goodness of fit, Phase 2, Phase-I, Acceptable range, Questionnaire items, Demographic characteristic.

Concepts being referred in other categories, contexts and sources.

Study, Scale, Distressed State.

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