Background:
This study was conducted to evaluate the validity of the Arabic translation of the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) in pregnant and postpartum women.
Methods:
A sample of 268 women participated. These included 113 women in their third trimester of pregnancy, 97 in the postpartum period and 58 healthy female college students. GHQ-12 and EPDS were also administered to the participants. Internal consistency reliability, assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, was 0.74.
Results:
PSS-10 significantly correlated with both EPDS and GHQ12 (rho=0.58 and rho=0.48respectively), and significantly increased with higher scores on stressful life events. PSS-10 scores were higher among college students who also recorded higher stressful life events scores.
Conclusion:
The Arabic translated version of the PSS-10 showed reasonably adequate psychometric properties.