Data showing that post-traumatic stress symptoms and defense mechanisms change based on perceived stress levels: A multivariate analysis of variance approach during the COVID-19 pandemic

The present research article provides data about the differences in post-traumatic stress symptoms, and defense mechanisms based on the levels of perceived stress (low, average, high), using a large national sample of 1100 Italian individuals, collected during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants completed an online survey through the Google Form platform, where the Ten-Item Perceived Stress Scale, Impact of Event Scale – Revised, and Forty Item Defense Style Questionnaire were included. First, the cut-offs of the perceived stress scale were calculated by determining the 25(th) and 75(th) percentile scores for the sample of this survey. Then, MANOVA analyses were performed, together with ANOVAs and the Bonferroni Post hoc analyses as a follow-up. The dataset (.xlsx) includes the survey scores, while the tables and figures provide the analysed data, where the differences are shown. This data article may provide useful bases for future research on perceived stress and for suggesting associated factors on which focus clinical intervention and preventive programs.