DIFFERENTIAL STRESS INVENTORY - DSI - 1 YEAR LICENSE

DETAILS

SYSTEM OVERVIEW

The Schuhfried VTS enables computer-assisted application of a large number of highly diverse psycho-diagnostic tests and measuring procedures. In developing the system much emphasis was placed on transparent structure and largely uniform design. It is therefore simple to operate and easy to understand and does not require any special computer skills.

The VTS basic module is required for administration of any of the available tests.

The Schuhfried VTS supports the administration of both single tests and test batteries. Many of the single tests are available in different test versions. These test versions may differ, for example, in terms of test duration or difficulty or may be parallel forms. They are characterized by different parameters reflecting specific test requirements. They have been designed for administration to a specific population (e.g. psychiatric patients, children, etc.) or for special measuring purposes (e.g. repeated measurements). Test batteries are compiled from the available single tests and test versions.

OVERVIEW

The Differential Stress Inventory makes it possible to analyze and differentiate stress behavior and allocate to types of stress experience.

APPLICATION

The Differential Stress Inventory makes it possible to measure and differentiate between stress triggers, symptoms of stress, available coping strategies and risks of stress stabilization. Both the extent and the cause of stress are identified.

Main areas of application: work psychology, company and organization psychology, health psychology, and clinical psychology.

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

The idea of developing the Differential Stress Inventory arose from the need to create a tool which would identify the way in which an individual deals with stress and which would do justice to the multidimensionality of the construct. In view of the practical implications for counseling and therapy, a behavior-theory model was considered to be the best basis for the construction of a stress questionnaire. The theoretical basis of the construction of the Differential Stress Inventory was the concept of the diagnosis of achievement anxiety put forward by Rost and Schermer (1987). The similarity between anxiety and stress which has often been remarked upon in the literature does indeed make such an approach seem appropriate. The tool is made up of 9 dimensions which have been obtained by factor analysis and which measure different aspects of the causes and symptoms of stress, coping strategies and stress stabilization. It is also possible to assign subjects to one of five stress types, depending on how they experience and respond to stress: normal, overstressed, stress resistant, low stress - successful coping, and high stress - successful coping.

ADMINISTRATION

After instructions have been given the items are presented sequentially on the screen. The subject indicates his responses on a four point verbally-marked scale (from is almost always true to is almost never true). It is not possible to omit items. The item immediately preceding the current one can be corrected once.

TEST FORMS

There is one test form with 122 items covering four stress-related areas: causes of stress, symptoms of stress, coping, and stress stabilization.

SCORING

The raw scores on the scales and the response times for each item are measured. Output is provided in the form of a results table with raw scores and percentiles for all the scales together with the individual test profile.

The following normed variables are covered

• Causes of Stress: everyday events, interaction with others, and anxieties about life circumstances
• Symptoms of Stress: physical, emotional / cognitive
• Coping: palliative, instrumental
• Stress Stabilization: external, internal

In addition, classification probabilities are calculated which identify the extent to which an individual's profile resembles five different reference profiles.

RELIABILITY

All scales of the DSI have a high degree of internal consistency (Cronbach's Alpha between .73 and .94).

VALIDITY

Since the scales of the DSI have been obtained by factor analysis, construct validity as understood in classical test theory can be regarded as given.

NORMS

Norms for S1 were obtained for a representative sample of n = 378 individuals (177 men, 201 women) in Austria in 2003 and 2004. Norms are also available differentiated by gender, educational background and age.

The norms for S2 were drawn up from a sample of N=606 children and young people (232 boys, 374 girls) in Germany in 2007. The norms are also available differentiated by gender and age.

TESTING TIME

Approx. 15 Minutes