Scale Overview
The Stress Satisfaction Offset Score – SSOS was developed by Martin Shain (1999). It is designed to measure Occupational Stress and Job Satisfaction. The scale is intended for use with Working adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 4 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Control, Reward, Demand, Effort.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Control |
1 |
1 |
| Reward |
2 |
1 |
| Demand |
3 |
1 |
| Effort |
4 |
1 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Disagree Strongly, 2 = Disagree, 3 = Not Sure, 4 = Agree, 5 = Agree Strongly.
The scale includes 2 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 -8 to 8. Interpretation guidelines:
- High Risk (Stress exceeds satisfaction): -8 – -1
- Neutral / Balanced: 0 – 0
- Low Risk (Satisfaction exceeds stress): 1 – 8
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified in source text.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 2 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.