The stress, power, environment, arousal checklist (SPEAC) : a three model measurement of stress

Abstract

This study introduces a test which offers measures of stress as a stimulus (environment), stress as a response (arousal), and stress as an interaction between stimulus and response (power). It also offers a "summary scale" of stress which allows the subjects to report their judgement of their stress. First and second drafts of the SPEAC were administered to 100 and 95 students, respectively. Their responses to these tests were factor analyzed and items showing insignificant loadings on the appropriate factors were replaced by new items.

The revised SPEAC was then administered to 491 students. Six monopolar factors were identified: (a) high arousal, (b) low arousal, (c) high stress, (d) low stress, (e) high power, and (f) low power.

Finally, in a separate study, the SPEAC and the SACL (Mackay, Cox, Burrows & Lazzerini, 1978) were administered to 48 students. Scores of the stress and arousal scales of the SPEAC were compared to those of the SACL, and the significant correlations suggest that these scales measure the same factors. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)