How Nature helps with Physical Stress( Physical Sensations of Stress in Nature (PSSN) Subscale )
Research Study: Physical Sensations of Stress in
Nature (PSSN) Subscale
Ioana Stancu, Andrei Marinescu & Mihai Radu (2020)
Study Purpose
The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Physical Sensations of Stress in Nature (PSSN) Subscale, a tool designed to assess individuals’ physical stress responses in natural environments. This subscale is part of a larger questionnaire, Stress in Natural environments (SNE) questionnaire
Respondents
The study sample consisted of 400 adults (ages 18-65) from Bucharest, Romania. Participants reported varying levels of exposure to natural environments, with approximately 50% of participants visiting green spaces regularly (at least once per week).
Method
Participants were asked to complete the 10-item PSSN Subscale, along with two other validated measures:
- Perceived Stress Scale (PSS): A widely used measure to assess perceived stress levels.
- Nature Relatedness Scale (NRS): Used to assess participants’ general connection to nature, for convergent validity analysis.
The PSSN Subscale items focused on physical sensations of stress relief, such as tension reduction, heart rate, breathing, and physical ease, when in natural environments. Items were rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree.
Psychometric Analysis
1. Content Validity
The PSSN Subscale items were reviewed by a panel of environmental psychology and health psychology experts, who assessed each item for relevance and clarity. After modifications based on expert feedback, a Content Validity Index (CVI) of 0.92 was achieved, indicating a high level of item relevance and clarity.
2. Construct Validity
To evaluate construct validity, a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with Varimax rotation was conducted. Results showed that the items loaded onto a single factor, which explained 65% of the variance. This supports the notion that the PSSN subscale measures a unidimensional construct of physical stress sensations in nature.
3. Convergent Validity
Convergent validity was assessed by examining correlations between the PSSN Subscale and the other validated measures:
- PSSN Subscale and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS): The PSSN demonstrated a moderate negative correlation with the PSS (r = -0.52, p < 0.001), indicating that individuals with lower physical stress sensations in nature reported lower overall perceived stress.
- PSSN Subscale and Nature Relatedness Scale (NRS): A moderate positive correlation was found between the PSSN and the NRS (r = 0.47, p < 0.001), suggesting that individuals who feel a strong connection to nature experience lower physical stress symptoms in natural settings.
These correlations support the convergent validity of the PSSN subscale.
Reliability
1. Internal Consistency
The internal consistency of the PSSN Subscale was measured using Cronbach’s alpha. Results showed a high level of internal consistency, with α = 0.87. Each item contributed positively to the overall reliability, confirming the coherence of the scale.
2. Test-Retest Reliability
To assess stability over time, 100 participants completed the PSSN Subscale again after a two-week interval. Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) analysis revealed strong test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.84), indicating that the PSSN Subscale produces stable scores over time.
Summary of Findings
The PSSN Subscale demonstrated strong validity and reliability as a measure of physical sensations of stress relief in natural environments. These psychometric properties suggest that it is a robust tool for assessing physical aspects of stress relief in natural settings. The subscale’s high internal consistency and test-retest reliability make it suitable for research and practical applications in environmental psychology and health studies.
Implications: This tool can be used in future studies to understand the specific physical benefits of natural environments on stress reduction and may have practical applications in designing stress-relief interventions in green spaces.
| The following statements are about your physical sensations and stress levels when you are in natural environments. Please read each statement carefully and indicate how much you agree or disagree with each statement based on your own experiences.
Use the following scale to rate each item: v 1 = Strongly Disagree v 2 = Disagree v 3 = Neutral v 4 = Agree v 5 = Strongly Agree
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