Table of Contents
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Description | The Revised Subjective Stress Scale (Berkun et al., 1962) is a modified version of the Subjective Stress Scale (SSS) originally developed by Kerle and Bialek (1958). The SSS employs a Thurstone equal-appearing-interval scale with 15 descriptive words sorted into 11 categories based on Army population samples. Modifications to the scale include replacing “Terrible” with “Panicky” and removing “In Agony,” reducing the item count to 14. The scale presents words in random order, asking individuals to select the term that best describes their feelings under specific conditions. It is widely used to measure subjective stress levels without requiring alternate forms or projections of others’ feelings. |
| Author | Mitchell M. Berkun, Hilton M. Bialek, Richard P. Kern, Kan Yagi |
| Affiliation | Presidio of Monterey, United States Army Leadership Human Research Unit |
| Purpose | To evaluate subjective levels of stress based on descriptive terms that reflect individual feelings in specific situations. |
| Construct | Psychological Stress |
| Instrument Type | Rating Scale |
| Administration Method | Paper |
| Test Year | 1962 |
| Format | Checklist format |
| Number of Items | 14 |
| Age Group | Adulthood (18 years & older) |
| Population Group | Human; Male; Female |
| Population Details | Sample: Military aircraft passengers |
| Test Items Available | Yes |
| Reliability | No reliability data available. |
| Validity | No validity data available. |
| Factor Analysis | Not indicated. |
| Classification | Trauma, Stress, and Coping |
| Keywords | Subjective Stress Scale; Test Development; Positive vs. Negative Affect |
| Index Terms | Emotional Responses; Stress; Test Construction |
| Reference | Berkun, M. M., Bialek, H. M., Kern, R. P., & Yagi, K. (1962). Experimental studies of psychological stress in man. Psychological Monographs: General and Applied, 76(15), 1–39. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0093835 |
Revised Subjective Stress Scale
The Subjective Stress Scale was first introduced by Kerle and Bialek in 1958. Subsequent experience indicates that the phrases “Terrible” and “In Agony” (see Table 1) are sometimes spontaneously responded to in terms of such physical distress as headache and insomnia. The other words in this instrument are used to describe feeling with respect to whatever environmental event S is directed to respond to. Accordingly, the authors recommend the substitution of the phrase “Panicky” taken from a little-used alternate form of the instrument, for “Terrible” and the deletion of “In Agony” in the absence of an equivalent substitute. The revised version is presented below.
- Wonderful
- Fine
- Comfortable
- Steady
- Didn’t bother me
- Indifferent
- Timid
- Unsteady
- Nervous
- Worried
- Unsafe
- Frightened
- Terrible
- In agony
- Scared stiff
Words are ordinarily presented to S in scrambled order, rather than as listed here. S is asked to check the
word best describing how he feels or how he felt under given circumstances. Repeated use has indicated no
need for alternate, equivalent forms or for having S project the putative feelings of others (Berkun et al., 1958).
- Wonderful
- Fine
- Comfortable
- Steady
- Didn’t bother me
- Indifferent
- Timid
- Unsteady
- Nervous
- Worried
- Unsafe
- Frightened
- Panicky
- Scared stiff
Cite this article
Mohammed looti (2026). Revised Subjective Stress Scale. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Retrieved from https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/revised-subjective-stress-scale/
Mohammed looti. "Revised Subjective Stress Scale." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 4 Apr. 2026, https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/revised-subjective-stress-scale/.
Mohammed looti. "Revised Subjective Stress Scale." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 2026. https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/revised-subjective-stress-scale/.
Mohammed looti (2026) 'Revised Subjective Stress Scale', PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Available at: https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/revised-subjective-stress-scale/.
[1] Mohammed looti, "Revised Subjective Stress Scale," PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, vol. X, no. Y, ص Z-Z, April, 2026.
Mohammed looti. Revised Subjective Stress Scale. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. 2026;vol(issue):pages.