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Measurement of Stress

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Stress and Somatic Symptoms

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Abstract

The assessment of stress is essential in clinical approaches as well as in psychosomatic research, particularly for exploring the relationship between stress and diseases. Such assessment has been done in terms of stimulus-oriented, response-oriented, and interaction-oriented measurement. Three categories of variables which need to be assessed are stressors, stress responses (cognitive, physiological, and behavioral), and personal characteristics (personal resources, behavioral patterns, and coping styles). The purpose of stress assessment in these three aspects is to make clear the client’s problem areas and help the therapist plan therapeutic approaches appropriately. In addition, such assessment can be used to evaluate changes between pre-treatment and posttreatment states. There are three approaches to stress measurement, such as interview, paper-and-pencil measures (use of rating scales or checklists), and direct observation. Each of these approaches has its own strength and weakness. Therefore, the therapist needs to be aware of both the strengths and weaknesses of the assessment tools to select the tool specifically fit for the individual.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Kyung Bong Koh

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  1. Kyung Bong Koh
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Stress Response Inventory

Stress Response Inventory

DIRECTIONS: A number of statements which people have used to describe themselves under stress are given below. Read each statement carefully, and then circle under the statement that best indicates how you have been feeling or what you have been experiencing during the past seven (7) days including today. There are no right or wrong answers. Do not spend too much time on any one statement, but make sure to answer all the given statements. One example is given below.

(Example)

 

Not at all

Somewhat

Moderately

Very much

Absolutely

I have no appetite

  

       ○

  

********

 

Not at all

Somewhat

Moderately

Very much

Absolutely

1. I make many mistakes at work

     

2. I don’t feel like talking

     

3. My chest feels tight

     

4. I feel angry

     

5. I feel agitated and restless

     

6. I suffer from indigestion

     

7. My stomach hurts

     

8. I feel like screaming

     

9. I often sigh

     

10. I feel dizzy

     

11. Everything bothers me

     

12. I have distracting thoughts

     

13. I am easily fatigued

     

14. I feel totally exhausted

     

15. I have lost my self-confidence

     

16. I feel tense

     

17. My body trembles

     

18. I feel like hitting someone

     

19. I have lost incentive to do anything

     

20. I feel like crying

     

21. I feel on edge

     

22. I have no future in my current work

     

23. I often stare blankly

     

24. I hate someone

     

25. I can’t get that thought out of my head

     

26. My voice is louder than it usually is

     

27. I easily get impatient

     

28. I act violently (such as reckless driving, cursing, fighting)

     

29. I feel like breaking something

     

30. I talk less than I used to

     

31. My head hurts or it feels heavy

     

32. My heart throbs

     

33. I feel like killing someone

     

34. My face gets flushed or it feels hot

     

35. I feel bored

     

36. I have lost my patience

     

37. My face looks rigid

     

38. I am useless (or unworthy)

     

39. I don’t like moving any part of my body

     

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Koh, K.B. (2018). Measurement of Stress. In: Stress and Somatic Symptoms. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02783-4_2

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