Stress in General Scale – SIG
A self-report scale designed to measure an individual's general, long-term experience of work stress across pressure and threat dimensions.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Stress in General Scale – SIG was developed by Stanton, J. M., Balzer, W. K., Smith, P. C., Parra, L. F., & Ironson, G. (2001). It is designed to measure General Work Stress. The scale is intended for use with Working adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 15 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Pressure, Threat.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure | 1,2,3,4,6,7,9,12,14 | 9 |
| Threat | 5,8,10,11,13,15 | 6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 3 = Yes, 0 = No, 1.5 = I can't decide.
The scale includes 5 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 45. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Stress: 0 – 15
- Moderate Stress: 16 – 30
- High Stress: 31 – 45
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Pressure: 0.88, Threat: 0.82, Total: 0.91.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 3 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.