Factors influencing college student health: Development of the Psychological Distress Inventory

Patrick J. Lustman, Claudia J. Sowa, Dennis J. O'Hara

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Describes the 3-phase development of the Psychological Distress Inventory (PDI), and instrument designed primarily to measure life stress in college students. In Phase 1, the responses of 198 students were studied to select items empirically and to construct the clinical scales. Phases 2 involved cross-validating the measure with an independent sample of 242 students. Phase 3 consisted of a criterion-related validity study. Standard psychometric information is presented, including reliability, validity, and some effects of response set on the measure. In addition to measuring life stress, the PDI allows users to separately assess degree of depression, anxiety, and somatic discomfort. It is suggested that in college populations, this instrument has broad utility as a research and clinical tool. (36 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)28-35
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Counseling Psychology
Volume31
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1984

Keywords

  • development of Psychological Distress Inventory, assessment of life stress & depression & anxiety & somatic discomfort, college students

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