Occupational stress (KOSS®19): scale development and validation in the Korean context

Abstract

Background: The Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS) was developed in 2004. During this time, industrial structures have evolved, and societal awareness of occupational stress has changed. This study aims to develop and validate a revised version of the Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS degrees 19), tailored for workers, reflecting these changes. Methods: The KOSS degrees 19 was developed based on the 26-item KOSS-short form (SF) through a review by eight experts. A survey was conducted including 359 service industry workers, comprising the KOSS degrees 19, Burnout, and Depression scales. The KOSS degrees 19 subscales were restructured, and their reliability and validity were evaluated. Results: The KOSS degrees 19 composed of eight subscales: hazardous physical environment (2 items), high job demand (3 items), insufficient job control (2 items), low social support (2 items), job insecurity (2 items), organizational injustice (4 items), lack of reward (2 items), and work-life imbalance (2 items). The reliability and validity of the KOSS degrees 19 were found to be satisfactory. Conclusions: The KOSS degrees 19 is a suitable tool for assessing occupational stress, effectively replacing the original KOSS and KOSS-SF.