The COVID-19 Student Stress Questionnaire: Validation in Spanish university students from health sciences

Abstract

This study aimed to validate the Spanish version of the COVID-19 Student Stress Questionnaire (CSSQ), a 7-item tool assessing COVID-19-related stressors among university students, namely, Relationships and Academic Life, Isolation, and Fear of Contagion. Participants were 331 Spanish university students. Factor analyses sustained the three factor solution of the original tool. Data also revealed satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity, suitable internal consistency, and significant associations with psychological symptoms, as measured by the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. The Spanish version of the CSSQ represents a valid tool to be used in clinical settings to timely identify students at high psychological risk and to develop evidence-based interventions during/after the pandemic.

COVID-19-Related Stressors and Psychophysical Health Conditions among Italian University Students: A Post Pandemic Insight

“…Within this already complex portrait, over the last several years, university students have been additionally challenged by the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has imposed several drastic modifications to their customary life [12,13], potentially entailing significant levels of stress related to the changes in their relational and academic life (i.e., relationships with family members and peers, as well as professors and university colleagues), as well as to the condition of social isolation and the fear of contagion [14][15][16][17][18][19]. Accordingly, several studies conducted among university students also highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent online learning deeply impacted mental wellbeing [20] and psychological health [21] resulting in poor academic performance [22], academic procrastination [23], and delaying graduation [24].…”