Composition of Factors and Psychometric Characteristics of the Perceived Stress Scale in a Sample of Romanian Employees
Composition of Factors and Psychometric Characteristics of the Perceived Stress Scale in a Sample of Romanian Employees

Summary/Abstract: The present study investigates the composition of factors and psychometric qualities of the Perceived Stress Scale among Romanian employees. This scale is widely used on a professional level, but its structure is unclear. 342 employees participated in an online survey between March and May 2025. Of these, 205 were from the educational sector and 137 from non-educational sectors. Two problematic items were excluded due to their inappropriate statistical behavior, resulting in an eight-item version. Four confirmatory models were estimated, including a single-factor model, a second-order factor model, a bifactorial model, and two first-order correlated factors representing perceived stress and perceived coping ability. The correlated factor model was the most coherent and parsimonious representation of the data, while the bifactorial solution presented insignificant loadings. Multi-group confirmatory factor analyses supported configural, metric, and scalar invariance across genders and residential settings, facilitating meaningful comparisons of latent means. Configurational and metric invariance was confirmed in occupational terms, with parameter variations between domains. The PSS- 8 has been demonstrated to serve as a reliable and effective instrument for the purpose of monitoring occupational stress and evaluating interventions designed to alleviate stress and augment coping resources. The findings lend support to the practice of reporting both the overall score and the subscales in both organizational contexts. However, the cross-sectional nature of the study, the online recruitment methodology, and gender imbalance are acknowledged limitations. Nevertheless, the data obtained provide a solid foundation for future longitudinal research using this instrument.

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