Development and Validation of an Instrument that Assesses Individual Differences in Threat and Challenge Appraisal

Abstract

Objective: This paper documents the development and validation of the Appraisal of Challenge or Threat Scale, a measure of individual differences in the tendency to appraise situations as threats or challenges. In addition to avoiding construct confounding inherent in existing measures, the scale assesses appraisal in a manner consistent with the original experimental studies delineating threat and challenge responses to stress. Method: Three studies using survey methods examined the psychometric properties of the scale and its relation to measures of the stress response, coping, and stress-related outcomes. Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis provided consistent evidence for the scales structure. Correlations provided evidence of validity. Conclusion: The results provide evidence for the factor structure, reliability, and construct validity of the measure of individual differences in the appraisal of stressful events as threats or challenges.