Modifiers and Perceived Stress Scale.

The Modifiers and Perceived Stress (MAPS) Scale measures stressful life events by number and amount of perceived stresses and provides scores for variables such as anticipation of events, responsibility for events, and amount of social support from family and friends in coping with each event that modify the way stress is perceived. Factor analysis of total and average scores for these areas identified four dimensions: Total and average anticipated and responsible scores loaded on one dimension, number of events and total perceived stress loaded on another, the two support scores loaded on a third factor, and average perceived stress loaded independently on a factor. Two-week test-retest reliabilities for scores were in the moderate to high range from r(43) = .69 to r(43) = .88. Independent assessments of stress by social workers correlated significantly with the total perceived stress score and with the average perceived stress score. Average perceived stress scores correlated higher and more often with psychological and physical indicators of stress in 200 men than did total perceived stress scores. Average perceived stress may measure an individual's usual way of reacting to stressful events. Number of events, which correlated highly with total perceived stress, may represent the magnitude of stress over a specific time.