Psychometric evaluation of the Arabic version of the Perceived Stress Scale in clinical practicum: Validity and reliability in the Moroccan nursing students

During clinical practicum, nursing students are subjected to stressors that can affect their well‑being, academic performance, and technical skills. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Perceived Stress Scale of Clinical Practicum (PSS‑CP) in a sample of Moroccan nursing students.

In this study, a translation and back‑translation method and comparisons were made with the original version. The study population consisted of 215 nursing students. The construct validity of PSS‑CP was measured using exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Convergent validity was demonstrated by correlation with the Arabic version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS‑21). For reliability, Cronbach’s alpha and test– re‑test reliability (with a 10‑day interval) were used. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics V. 23.0 (SPSS) and AMOS V.21.0 (SPSS) software.

The results showed that the PSS‑CP is a reliable and valid scale with good internal consistency and test–re‑test reliability. In terms of convergent validity, the PSS‑CP showed a positive and significant correlation with the DASS‑21 scale items. The results of this study led to a two‑factor model consisting of 29 items.

The PSS‑CP is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing clinical stressors among nursing students in Morocco.