Psychometric properties of the Weekly Stress Inventory (WSI): extension to a patient sample with coronary heart disease.

The psychometric characteristics of the Weekly Stress Inventory (WSI) were examined in a sample of medical patients (N = 84) diagnosed with coronary heart disease. In addition to the WSI, patients completed measures assessing recent depressive symptoms, physical symptoms, Type A behavior, and trait anxiety. Patients also monitored stress for 3 weeks (n = 46), completing the Daily Stress Inventory (a measure of minor stress) daily and the WSI at concurrent 1-week intervals. Results indicated that the WSI is an internally consistent and moderately stable measure. Validity of the WSI was supported by (a) strong correlations with a concurrently administered measure of minor stress (concurrent validity); (b) significant positive correlations with measures assessing recent depressive symptoms, physical symptoms, and Type A behavior; and (c) a lack of relationship with a measure of trait anxiety (discriminant validity).