Stressor experience in primary school-aged children: development of a scale to assess profiles of exposure and effects on psychological well-being

This study reports the development of a scale—the Children's Stress Questionnaire (CSQ). It goes on to report the utility of the CSQ to assess the nature and level of stressor experience in a large sample of young and normal, primary school-age children, to document profiles of stressor experience in that age group, and to establish relationships between childhood stress and both current and future psychological dysfunction. Stressors grouped statistically into five related subscales, the largest of which reflected daily hassles beyond normal control. Repeat administrations of the CSQ 12 months apart confirmed the stability of the factor structure. Subscales demonstrated acceptable reliability, both internally and over time. In addition, subscale scores consistently related to negative (though not positive) mood at intake. More important, most subscale scores at intake statistically predicted depression three to four months and then 12 months later and anxiety at 24 months. The CSQ meets the stated need for an instrument capable of assessing stressor experience in unselected (nondysfunctional) young children and has demonstrated utility for further research on stress and health in this age group.