• :00Days
  • :00Hours
  • :00Mins
  • 00Seconds
A new era for learning is coming soonSign up for free
Log In Start studying!

Select your language

Suggested languages for you:
StudySmarter - The all-in-one study app.
4.8 • +11k Ratings
More than 3 Million Downloads
Free
|
|

Measuring Stress

Stress is a normal part of daily life -- big or small, from stubbing your toe to crashing your car on your way to work. You would most likely not rate your stress level in these two scenarios equally. But how do we measure stress? And how can psychologists benefit from measuring stress?First, we’ll describe stress measurement scales.Then, what are…

Content verified by subject matter experts
Free StudySmarter App with over 20 million students
Mockup Schule

Explore our app and discover over 50 million learning materials for free.

Measuring Stress

Measuring Stress
Illustration

Lerne mit deinen Freunden und bleibe auf dem richtigen Kurs mit deinen persönlichen Lernstatistiken

Jetzt kostenlos anmelden

Nie wieder prokastinieren mit unseren Lernerinnerungen.

Jetzt kostenlos anmelden
Illustration

Stress is a normal part of daily life -- big or small, from stubbing your toe to crashing your car on your way to work. You would most likely not rate your stress level in these two scenarios equally. But how do we measure stress? And how can psychologists benefit from measuring stress?

  • First, we’ll describe stress measurement scales.
  • Then, what are the physiological measures of stress?
  • Let’s continue by discussing stress-measuring instruments.
  • What are the types of stress measurement tests?
  • Finally, what are some difficulties in measuring stress?

Stress Measurement Scales

A person suffers from stress when they believe their well-being is under threat. This causes psychological and biological strain.

Stress measurement tests consist of methods used by health researchers and psychologists to detect human illnesses related to or caused by stress. Measuring stress is more straightforward when psychologists use the most relevant scales. Some of the most common scales used in measuring stress response are:

Self-report scales (SRRS and Hassle and uplift scale) use a rating scale that requires the respondent to respond to direct questions regarding their attitudes or beliefs.

Skin conductance response (SCR) scale: measures the skin’s electrical response to autonomic nervous system activity during stress. The idea is that the skin conduction of electricity briefly increases when we feel stressed.

Physiological Measures of Stress

Psychological strain is not the only evidence of stress we can measure. Researchers have long since discovered that there are several physiological symptoms of stress. Physiological measures of stress may involve measuring the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is active when we experience stress.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a neuroendocrine mechanism that regulates stress through several feedback loops between the anterior pituitary gland, hypothalamus and adrenal gland.

Cortisol (hormones) and catecholamines (monoamine neurotransmitters) are the byproduct of HPA activation and can be detected in our blood, urine, and saliva.

Other physiological breadcrumbs our body leaves when we experience stress include high blood pressure and skin conductance response.

Measuring Stress, male student sitting at table with laptop and hand on head, StudySmarterFig. 1 - Stressed student. Measuring stress requires understanding its physiological effects.

Stress Measuring Instruments

Thanks to the advancement in scientific research, several physiological stress-measuring instruments are now available to researchers. Let’s take a look at a few examples:

Research Tools for Measuring StressDescription

Blood pressure monitor

It measures and displays systolic and diastolic blood pressure. When you’re stressed, your body releases stress hormones that affect the activity of your heart and blood vessels.

Systolic reading measures the blood pressure in arteries when the heart is beating, and diastolic reading measures the blood pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats. This measure can indicate high-stress levels.

Blood and urine tests

These tests measure the level of cortisol in the body. Cortisol is a stress hormone that prioritises certain functions, for instance, if you have a fight or flight response. Increased levels of cortisol in the body mean high levels of stress.

Electrodes for skin conductance response scale

When using SCR to measure stress levels, scientists attach electrodes to the participant’s fingertips and measure the skin’s resistance to electricity. High ratings on an SCR imply arousal of the autonomous nervous system, which can be related to stress.

When a person is stressed, they are also likely to sweat more. Sweaty or damp skin is a better conductor of electricity and thus reduces the skin’s resistance to it; this can be determined by measuring the SCR when a person is relaxed and compared with the SCR levels when the same person is seemingly under stress.

Stress Measurement Tests

Let’s look at a couple of types of stress measurement tests that employ self-report scales:

  • Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS).
  • Hassles and Uplift Scales (HUPS).

Stress Measurement Scale: Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)

Holmes and Rahe (1967) developed the social readjustment rating scale (SRRS) to measure the link between symptoms of stress and life events on a scale of 100. They used the records of 5000 patients to derive 43 life events that were a cause of stress symptoms.

Around 400 patients were asked to rate the life events regarding how much readjustment was required to adjust to a life event.

For example, the death of a spouse = 100, marriage = 50, and minor law violations = 11.

The psychologists added and averaged these ratings along with other individual life event scores to create the Life change unit (LCU) for each event. The higher the LCU, the higher the chance of suffering from stress and potentially developing a stress-related illness.

Stress Measurement Scale: Hassles and Uplift Scale (HSUP)

Other stress measurement tests that employ a self-report scale focus on daily hassles and uplifts. Researchers such as Kanner et al. (1981) pushed back against the approach used in the SRRS, which focuses on life events as major sources of stress. They thought that, instead, stress should be measured by our daily hassles (daily, irritating and distressing demands) versus daily uplifts.

Kanner et al. (1981) used the following components in their empirical study:

  • The hassle scale comprised 117 events that spanned work, family, and friends. It was conducted on middle-aged participants over ten months. The participants had to rate the intensity of the hassles they experienced on a three-point scale.

  • The uplift scale consisted of 135 positive events, such as having a good night’s sleep. The participants had to rate how often they experienced these events over the ten months.

The researchers found that the hassles scale had a good chance of predicting psychological well-being changes. They were better at predicting this than the life events scores.

DeLongis et al. (1982) took this research one step further and developed the Hassles and Uplift Scale (HSUP), which measured the degree to which daily hassles correlate negatively with a person’s health. They found that these can have a more significant, long-term effect on stress than previous serious life events.

The hassles and uplifts scale may be a better predictor of the long-term effects that stress can have.

Measuring Stress, picture of man's hide shoes and spilled coffee in road, StudySmarterFig. 2 - Spilling your coffee in the morning can be considered a daily hassle.

Difficulties in Measuring Stress

Researchers may face several difficulties in measuring stress using self-reporting and skin conductance response scales (SCR).

Difficulties in Measuring Stress: Self-Report Scales

The self-report scales can provide more detail of the patient’s account regarding the event’s intensity and its link to stress. However, the self-reporting scales fail to establish the cause-and-effect relationship between stress and life events as they are mainly linked with correlation studies.

External variables like personality type or increased cortisol levels (stress hormone) can affect the results. The self-report scales depend on the subjectivity of the patients.

This reduces the reliability and replicability of the results since each participant will provide scores according to their understanding.

Additionally, the results are prone to social desirability bias. The patients might not want to openly admit in the questionnaire that they are stressed and might need help.

Difficulties in Measuring Stress: Skin Conductance Response Scale

There are several advantages to using skin conductance response scales. It’s cheap and highly reliable as it can be replicated to produce similar results. However, a major difficulty is that an SCR can measure the intensity of the skin’s response to electricity. Still, it cannot objectively differentiate whether the response is due to stress, nervousness, or happiness. For such details, researchers have to depend on self-report questionnaires.

External variables can influence the readings of the SCR.

For example, high alcohol consumption can cause more sweating and weather humidity.

These can become misleading factors affecting the results of stress measurement. The participant’s internal variables can also mislead the reading.

For example, their personality type (rigid and inflexible personality, type A, may always be anxious and stressed) or if the participant has been going through life-changing events for a long time.

Measuring Stress - Key takeaways

  • Stress measurement tests consist of methods used by health researchers and psychologists to detect human illnesses related to or caused by stress. Measuring stress is more straightforward when psychologists use the most relevant scales.

  • Cortisol (hormones) and catecholamines (monoamine neurotransmitters) are the byproduct of HPA activation and can be detected in our blood, urine, and saliva. Other physiological breadcrumbs our body leaves when we experience stress include high blood pressure and skin conductance response.

  • A blood pressure monitor measures and displays systolic and diastolic blood pressure. When you’re stressed, your body releases stress hormones that affect the activity of your heart and blood vessels.

  • Holmes and Rahe (1967) developed the social readjustment rating scale (SRRS) to measure the link between symptoms of stress and life events on a scale of 100. They used the records of 5000 patients to derive 43 life events that were a cause of stress symptoms.

  • A major difficulty is that an SCR can measure the intensity of the skin’s response to electricity. Still, it cannot objectively differentiate whether the reaction is due to stress, nervousness, or happiness.

Frequently Asked Questions about Measuring Stress

Oxidative stress is measured by obtaining a blood or saliva sample.

1. Fight or Flight. We perceive a threat.

2. Damage control. 

3. Recovery. 

4. Adaption. 

5. Burnout.

Stress measurement tests include the social readjustment rating scale and the hassles and uplift scale. 

Stress is measured physiologically through skin conductance response, blood pressure monitoring, and blood and urine tests. 

Stress can be measured quantitatively by measuring heart rate variability (HRV). 

Final Measuring Stress Quiz

Measuring Stress Quiz - Teste dein Wissen

Question

What are stress measurement scales?

Show answer

Answer

Stress measurement scales consist of methods that are progressively used by health researchers and scientists to detect illnesses in humans related to or caused by stress.

Show question

Question

Which scales can we use to measure stress?

Show answer

Answer

  • Self-report scales.
  • Physiological tools.

Show question

Question

Who developed the self-report SRRS scale?


Show answer

Answer

Homes and Rahe (1967).

Show question

Question

How many participants scored on the SRRS scale?


Show answer

Answer

Around 400 patients were requested to rate the life events in terms of how much readjustment is required to adjust to a life event.

Show question

Question

List the physiological tools used to measure stress.


Show answer

Answer

  • Blood and urine test.

  • Blood pressure monitor.

  • Skin conductance response.

Show question

Question

How do blood and urine tests help in measuring stress?


Show answer

Answer

Blood and urine tests measure the cortisol level in the body, as this is a  stress hormone. Increased levels of cortisol in the body mean high levels of stress.

Show question

Question

Describe the blood pressure monitor as a stress measurement instrument


Show answer

Answer

The blood pressure monitor measures and displays systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Systolic reading measures the blood pressure in arteries when the heart is beating, and diastolic reading measures the blood pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats.

Show question

Question

Evaluate the self-report scales as a stress measurement instrument.


Show answer

Answer

The self-report scales can provide more detail of the patient’s account regarding the event's intensity and its link to stress. Since stress symptoms have individual differences that are catered in both the self-report scales, it increases the validity of results.


The self-report scales are open to the subjectivity of the patients. It reduces the reliability of the results to be replicated since each participant will provide scores according to their understanding of the questionnaire.

Show question

Question

Who developed the hassles and uplift scale?

Show answer

Answer

Kanner et al. (1981).

Show question

Question

How was the hassles and uplift scale developed?


Show answer

Answer

Kanner et al. (1981) developed a hassle and uplift scale. The hassle scale consisted of 117 events that spanned over topics such as work, family, and friends. The participants had to rate the intensity of the hassles they experienced on a three-point scale. 

The uplift scale consisted of 135 positive events such as a good night's sleep. The participants had to rate how often they experienced these events over the period.

Show question

Question

What does SCR stand for?


Show answer

Answer

Skin conductance response.

Show question

Question

How does SCR measure the skin's response to electricity?


Show answer

Answer

When using SCR to measure stress levels, electrodes are attached to the participant's fingertips, and the skin’s resistance to electricity is measured.

Show question

Question

Why is the equipment used in SCR considered to be a good measurement of stress?


Show answer

Answer

When a person is stressed, they are likely to sweat more which is linked to high levels of stress. Sweaty or damp skin is a better conductor of electricity as it has less resistance. High levels of SCR imply arousal of the autonomous nervous system which can be related to stress.

Show question

Question

Evaluate skin conductance response as a physiological tool for measuring stress.


Show answer

Answer

  • SCR cannot differentiate between different states of emotions. SCR can measure the intensity of the skin’s response to electricity. However, it cannot objectively determine whether the response is due to stress, nervousness, or happiness.
  • The readings of the SCR can be influenced by external variables such as high alcohol consumption, which can cause sweating.

Show question

Question

What does LCU stand for?


Show answer

Answer

Life change unit (LCU).

Show question

Question

What is stress?

Show answer

Answer

Stress is when change causes a physiological, emotional, and/or psychological strain. 

Show question

Question

Who created the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)?

Show answer

Answer

Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe.

Show question

Question

When was the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) created?

Show answer

Answer

In 1967.

Show question

Question

How many stressful live events are there in the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)?

Show answer

Answer

43.

Show question

Question

What are the stressful life events known as in the SRRS?

Show answer

Answer

Life-changing units (LCUs).

Show question

Question

The higher your LCU score, the more stressed you are and the higher your chances of developing a stress-related illness. True or false?

Show answer

Answer

True.

Show question

Question

How many months does a person factor in when calculating their score based on how many stressful events have occurred?

Show answer

Answer

12 months. The values associated with the life events are summed to produce a total value. If an event has occurred more than once in the past 12 months, the value is multiplied by the number of events.

Show question

Question

Give an example of an LCU used in the SRRS.

Show answer

Answer

Any of the following:


  • Death of a spouse.
  • Divorce.
  • Retirement. 
  • Change in a financial situation.
  • The trouble with boss.

Show question

Question

What event has the highest LCU score?

Show answer

Answer

Death of a spouse – 100.

Show question

Question

What does a score of 150 or less mean in the SRRS?

Show answer

Answer

This indicates a low level of life stress. The likelihood of developing a stress-related illness is considered low - an estimated 30% chance of becoming ill in the near future.

Show question

Question

What does a score of 150 to 299 mean in the SRRS?

Show answer

Answer

An estimated 50% chance of becoming ill in the future.

Show question

Question

What does a score of 300 or more mean in the SRRS?

Show answer

Answer

80% chance of becoming ill in the near future.

Show question

Question

Is the SRRS valid?

Show answer

Answer

Yes. Research related to the scale has consistently demonstrated an association between stressful life events from the scale and physically related illness. This indicates the scale is accurate in measuring stress and determining stress-related illnesses.

Show question

Question

Is the SRRS reliable? 

Show answer

Answer

Yes. The study was praised for its reliability because the original study had a large sample of 5,000 medical patients. Since the study found a positive relationship between LCU scores and stress-related illness in a large sample, this speaks to the reliability of the SRRS scale.

Show question

Question

Does the scale have issues with ambiguity?

Show answer

Answer

Yes, some items in the scale may be considered ambiguous and not representative of actual stress levels.

For example, ‘trouble with the boss’ does not indicate the level of trouble a person may be having with their boss.

Show question

Question

What is the definition of self-report scales?

Show answer

Answer

Self-reports are a source of direct information from the participants about their thoughts, feelings, beliefs and behaviours, (as oppose to observations).  

Show question

Question

What does SRRS stand for?

Show answer

Answer

Social Readjustment Rating Scale 

Show question

Question

Who developed the SRRS scale?

Show answer

Answer

 Holmes and Rahe (1967) 

Show question

Question

What does HSUP stand for?

Show answer

Answer

Hassles and Uplifts scale

Show question

Question

Who developed HSUP?

Show answer

Answer

Kanner et al. (1981)

Show question

Question

How was the SRRS first developed?

Show answer

Answer

Holmes and Rahe (1967) worked in hospitals and noticed that patients who had problems with stress and health (e.g. heart disease) would often have experienced certain life events. 
They analysed the data and drew the conclusion that the bigger the life change, the grater the stress and more serious the illness it caused.  

Show question

Question

What does LCU stand for and what is it?

Show answer

Answer

LCU stands for Life changing units and they are the score for each live event in terms of how long it would take to readjust after it.

Show question

Question

What were findings of the SRRS scale's correlation with stress and illness?

Show answer

Answer

Holmes and Rahe found that there is a positive correlation between LCU score and illness, i.e. the higher the LCU score, the greater the chance of getting ill. They stated that a higher LCU score causes higher stress levels, which lead to illnesses.

Show question

Question

How many hassles and how many uplifts were in the HSUP scale?

Show answer

Answer

117 hassles and 135 uplifts.

Show question

Question

What was the purpose of developing the HSUP?

Show answer

Answer

HSUP scale was developed by Kanner et al. (1981) who looked at how daily hassles and uplifts affected stress levels and stress induced illnesses.

Show question

Question

What were the findings about the HSUP?

Show answer

Answer

Found that there was a positive correlation between daily hassles and stress related illnesses. They also found that the hassles scale was a better predictor of psychological well-being than the life events scale. 

Show question

Question

How was validity a strength for self-report scales measuring stress?

Show answer

Answer

Because self-report scales can gain the participants' thoughts and feelings, and therefore are an accurate and valid measure of stress. 

Show question

Question

How was credibility a strength for self-report scales measuring stress? 

Show answer

Answer

Psychologists widely use the SRRS and HSUP scales, or its adaptations, in research. 

Show question

Question

In which 2 ways was validity a limitation for self-report scales measuring stress?  

Show answer

Answer

The scales are not as valid as they seem because different people interpret the life events at different extremes, which biases the results and decreases validity (Dohrenwend et al. 1990). Also, the SRRS doesn't account for individual differences. 

Show question

Question

Explain the contamination effect as a limitation for self-report scales measuring stress.

Show answer

Answer

Self-report scales include items that are effects of stress rather than predictors of it. 

Show question

Question

Why was reliability a limitation/criticism of the HSUP scale?

Show answer

Answer

HSUP is very long with 250 items so people won't be as thoughtful and focused while doing it, which reduces reliability.

Show question

60%

of the users don't pass the Measuring Stress quiz! Will you pass the quiz?

Start Quiz

How would you like to learn this content?

Creating flashcards
Studying with content from your peer
Taking a short quiz

94% of StudySmarter users achieve better grades.

Sign up for free!

94% of StudySmarter users achieve better grades.

Sign up for free!

How would you like to learn this content?

Creating flashcards
Studying with content from your peer
Taking a short quiz

Free psychology cheat sheet!

Everything you need to know on . A perfect summary so you can easily remember everything.

Access cheat sheet

Discover the right content for your subjects

No need to cheat if you have everything you need to succeed! Packed into one app!

Study Plan

Be perfectly prepared on time with an individual plan.

Quizzes

Test your knowledge with gamified quizzes.

Flashcards

Create and find flashcards in record time.

Notes

Create beautiful notes faster than ever before.

Study Sets

Have all your study materials in one place.

Documents

Upload unlimited documents and save them online.

Study Analytics

Identify your study strength and weaknesses.

Weekly Goals

Set individual study goals and earn points reaching them.

Smart Reminders

Stop procrastinating with our study reminders.

Rewards

Earn points, unlock badges and level up while studying.

Magic Marker

Create flashcards in notes completely automatically.

Smart Formatting

Create the most beautiful study materials using our templates.

Sign up to highlight and take notes. It’s 100% free.

Start learning with StudySmarter, the only learning app you need.

Sign up now for free
Illustration