Validation of the Moroccan version of the Cohen perceived stress scale (PSS-10) among women with Breast cancer

Abstract BackgroundThe possible contribution of psychological stress to the development of BC has been largely investigated. One of the most extensively used psychological scales is the Perceived Stress Scale (Health Soc Behav 24:385 − 96, 1983), which demonstrates sufficient reliability and validity. The PSS-10 has been translated and adapted into over 30 languages on different samples. Thus, the purposes of this study were first to translate the PSS-10 into the Moroccan Arabic dialect language and second to evaluate its validity in women with breast cancer (BC).MethodsA method of translation and counter-translation into the Moroccan dialect was performed for the 10-item of PSS. Then the translated questionnaire was administered to a representative sample of 100 women with BC. Validation of metrological qualities was established by examining: internal reliability, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, and factorial structure.ResultThe Moroccan version of the PSS showed a good internal reliability (α = 0.87) and test-retest reliability (0.95 with IC95%=[0.88,0.98]. The confirmatory factor analysis showed a bi-dimensional structure with two related latent factors. Moreover, the principal component analysis of the Perceived Stress Scale allowed us to extract two factors that explained 67% of the total variance.ConclusionsThe present study showed that the Moroccan version of the PSS-10 has good internal consistency and reliability. The factor structure is similar to that of the PSS translated into other languages. We consider this version of the PSS-10 to be an adequate instrument for assessing perceived stress in the Moroccan population and can provide an important tool in medical practice such as oncology. Moreover, it will be interesting to conduct further studies as comparative investigations between patients with BC and healthy women by using this validated Scale PSS.