The Korean Version of Pandemic Stress Questionnaire: Validation in Korean Population

OBJECTIVE: The spread of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has acted as a significant stressor among individuals, causing a variety of psychological problems. The purpose of this study is to determine the level of stress caused by COVID-19 by translating and validating the Pandemic Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) in Korean, which measures stressful event caused by COVID-19. METHODS: A statistical analysis was performed on 167 participants. The scale’s internal consistency was verified using Cronbach’s α. Furthermore, a correlation analysis was carried out to examine the relationships between Perceived Stress Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-15, and World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument Brief Form. Lastly, a multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the effect of pandemic-related stressful events on depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms. RESULTS: Cronbach’s α for Korean version of PSQ (K-PSQ) Severity was 0.79, and that for K-PSQ Event was 0.78. The results of the multiple regression analysis revealed that pandemic stress events have an effect on anxiety and somatic symptoms. CONCLUSION: The K-PSQ is a tool in which individuals can simultaneously measure the occurrence of stressful events caused by COVID-19 and the severity of stress that is often experienced as a result. It is expected that this tool will be useful in the mental health field for measuring COVID-19-related stress.