RESEARCH


THE POST-SECONDARY STUDENT STRESSORS INDEX

What is the PSSI?

The PSSI is an instrument created by Dr. Brooke Linden with extensive involvement and collaboration with students. Delivered as an online survey, the tool asks students to evaluate 46 common sources of stress by severity and frequency across five major domains of stress: academics, the learning environment, campus culture, interpersonal, and personal stressors. The goal of the PSSI is to facilitate the improvement and refinement of upstream student wellness services on Canadian campuses.

During the 2020-2021 academic year, the PSSI was released at 15 post-secondary institutions across Canada, with participating schools representing every province except Quebec, in addition to the NWT. This study resulted in further psychometric support for the PSSI, as well as a rich dataset of >10,000 students. Several analyses are currently underway. The graphs below show the distribution of stressors from the first time point of data collection during this study.

2023/2024 Launch 

This fall, the PSSI is being launched again at 25+ universities and colleges across Canada. 

PSSI Publications

Published
Linden, Stuart & Ecclestone 2022 - Cross-national Trends
File Size: 607 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Linden 2021 - Protocol for Cross-Canada PSSI Release
File Size: 724 kb
File Type: pdf
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Linden, Boyes & Stuart 2020 - PSSI Proof-of-Concept
File Size: 1836 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Linden & Stuart 2019 - PSSI Psychometrics (Pilot)
File Size: 702 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Forthcoming/In Progress

Linden B, Ecclestone A. Preliminary Psychometric Evidence for the Validity of the Brief Version of the Post-secondary Student Stressors Index (Brief PSSI). (In progress)

Hopkin T, Linden B. First generation students experiences of stress and psychological distress compared to their continuing generation counterparts during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.
(In progress)
 
Toole E, Olthuis J, and Linden B. Exploring the stressors experienced by university varsity athletes using a nationwide sample of Canadian post-secondary students. (Submitted Aug 2022)

​Linden B & Stuart H. Further psychometric analysis of the Post-Secondary Student Stressors Index using a
nationwide, multi-site sample. (Submitted to PLOS ONE March 2022)

Linden B, Monaghan C, Zheng S, Rose J and Mahar A. Evaluating the impact of COVID-19 related stress on
Canadian post-secondary students. (Revisions submitted to BMC Public Health June 2022)

What's Next?

Development of the Brief-PSSI
A 14-item version of the PSSI has been developed, in order to improve the tool's accessibility and utility. A validation study investigating the brief version's psychometric properties is complete, and under review for publication.
85%
PSSI as a Student-Facing Resource Navigator
We are working on turning the PSSI around to be a student-facing tool that will 1) identify students' top stressors out of those listed on the tool, and 2) direct students to appropriate resources, specific to the stressors they have endorsed.
60%
Translation and Validation of French Versions
While French versions of the original and brief versions of the PSSI are available, they have not yet been validated among a sample of French-speaking students. This validation work is up next on our list!
15%