Refinement of the Lakaev Academic Stress Response Scale (LASRS-2) for Research, Clinical, and Educational Settings Using Rasch Modeling

ABSTRACT

Rasch Analysis suggested the Lakaev Academic Stress Response Scale-1 (LASRS-1) would benefit from refinement by the addition of items and changes to the wording of other items. It was named the LASRS-2 and contained Four Domains (Affective, Behavioral, Cognitive, and Physiological). Rasch Model Analysis tested construct validity and internal reliability on a population of tertiary (university or college) level students (n = 2,000). Good person separation and item reliability estimates provided evidence that this tool was a reliable measure of academic stress. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of Rasch residuals showed the scale to be unidimensional. The results confirmed confidence in the replicability of scores due to sufficient item separation, agreeability, and that scores formed a continuum. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used as a secondary check to support findings of Rasch Modeling outcomes. The LASRS-2 was shown to be a valid and reliable psychometric tool that measured academic stress.