Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Chinese Version of the Perceived Stress Reactivity Scale

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Perceived Stress Reactivity Scale (PSRS) in the Chinese population. Methods: A total of 3560 Chinese participants aged 18-60 years from various provinces and cities in mainland China were included. Sample 1 (n = 3316) was used for CFA, MI, internal consistency, convergent, criterion-related validity, and difference analysis. Sample 2 (n = 244) was employed to evaluate test-retest reliability over a four-week interval. Results: The study validated a robust 23-item, five-factor structure for the Chinese PSRS, demonstrating strong reliability with a Cronbach’s α of 0.90 and a test-retest reliability of 0.83. The PSRS and its subscales were significantly correlated with measures of depression, stress, anxiety, and self-efficacy. Strict invariance was observed across gender and age groups (18-40 and 41-60 years). Women and young adults scored higher on the overall scale and most subscales compared with their counterparts. Conclusion: The PSRS is a reliable instrument for assessing perceived stress reactivity within the Chinese population. By validating its cultural adaptation and psychometric properties, this study lays a foundation for its cross-cultural application. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of perceived stress reactivity differences across gender and age groups and provide practical insights for future interventions and stress management research in the Chinese population.