Psychometric analysis and factor structure of Stress-Related Growth Scale

The paper focuses on the measurement of the growth which follows stress experience. It shortly describes the most used methods in this area and it analyzes psychometric characteristics of the Slovak version of Stress-Related Growth Scale (Park, Cohen, Murch, 1996). Sample of 315 university students was used to analyze descriptive indicators of the scale and its items, as well as internal consistency and factor structure. The analysis confirmed the high internal consistency of the scale (alpha 0,94), but it showed differences in the items concerning the amount of the growth. It was shown that the type of stress situation was related to the amount of experienced growth and females score higher than males in the global score of the scale. Factor analysis revealed 5 areas of growth: personal relationships, hardiness and coping with problem, attitude to life and life situations, meaning in life and spirituality, personal competence and freedom.