Open AccessThe dimensionality of the general work stress scale: A hierarchical exploratory factor analysis
Author(s) -
Gideon P. de Bruin
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
sa journal of industrial psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.438
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 2071-0763
pISSN - 0258-5200
DOI - 10.4102/sajip.v32i4.250
Subject(s) - exploratory factor analysis , psychology , worry , factor analysis , scale (ratio) , curse of dimensionality , factor (programming language) , social psychology , stress (linguistics) , construct (python library) , psychometrics , statistics , developmental psychology , anxiety , mathematics , computer science , physics , linguistics , philosophy , quantum mechanics , psychiatry , programming language
This study examined the dimensionality or factor structure of the General Work Stress Scale (GWSS), which is a brief measure of subjectively experienced or felt work stress. The responses of two independent groups of adult workers were subjected to maximum likelihood factor analysis. In both groups a three factor solution provided the best fit with the data. A higher order factor analysis with an orthogonal Schmid-Leiman transformation showed that in both groups, responses to the items are dominated by a general factor, which might be labelled General Work Stress. Three minor group factors were identified: a motivational factor reflected by a desire to leave the organisation, an affective factor reflected by a tendency to worry, and a cognitive factor reflected by concentration and attentional difficulties. Overall, the results provide support for the construct validity of the GWSS as a measure of subjectively experienced work stress