Publication date: Jul 05, 2025

The Patient Health Questionnaire stress scale (PHQ stress) is a brief 10-item measure of psychosocial stressors, including work, health, relationship, and financial concerns. This study examines changes in psychosocial stress during the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluates the scale’s temporal stability and measurement invariance. Longitudinal population-based data (N = 4412) were collected at three time points during the pandemic (baseline, 4 months later, and 1. 5 years after baseline). Internal consistency was assessed using McDonald’s omega, and temporal stability via Pearson correlations. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to verify the unidimensional factor structure. A sensitivity analysis included pre-pandemic data (1. 5 years before baseline). PHQ stress scores increased across the four time points. Internal consistency remained acceptable (ω = 0. 77-0. 79), with moderate temporal stability (r = 0. 631-0. 697). CFA supported a stable one-factor structure (CFI = 0. 947, TLI = 0. 932, RMSEA = 0. 048, SRMR = 0. 047). The PHQ stress scale demonstrated adequate reliability and temporal stability in a longitudinal context. It effectively captured variations in stress influenced by major external events such as the pandemic and economic inflation.

Semantics

Original Article