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Stress Appraisal Measure
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About Stress Appraisal Measure
Scale Name
Author Details
Edward J. Peacock
Translation Availability
Not Sure
Background/Description
The Stress Appraisal Measure (SAM) was developed by Edward J. Peacock in 1990. It is a self-report questionnaire that assesses six dimensions of cognitive appraisal, which is the process of evaluating a situation as stressful or not. The SAM is based on the transactional theory of stress, which posits that stress is not simply a function of the stressors in one’s environment, but also of how one appraises those stressors.
The SAM is a 28-item questionnaire that is administered individually or in groups. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (not at all) to 5 (extremely). The six dimensions of cognitive appraisal assessed by the SAM are:
- Challenge: The extent to which the situation is seen as an opportunity for growth or development.
- Threat: The extent to which the situation is seen as a danger or threat to one’s well-being.
- Harm: The extent to which the situation is seen as having caused actual damage or loss.
- Loss: The extent to which the situation is seen as having deprived one of something important.
- Injustice: The extent to which the situation is seen as unfair or unjust.
- Self-efficacy: One’s confidence in one’s ability to cope with the situation.
The SAM has been shown to be a reliable and valid measure of cognitive appraisal. It has been used in a wide range of research studies to investigate the relationship between cognitive appraisal and other stress-related constructs, such as coping, stress symptoms, and health outcomes. The SAM has also been used in clinical settings to assess individuals’ cognitive appraisal of stressful situations and to develop interventions to help them cope more effectively.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Provide participants with the SAM questionnaire and a copy of the instructions.
- Ask participants to read the instructions carefully and to ask any questions they may have.
- Instruct participants to complete the questionnaire by rating each item on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (not at all) to 5 (extremely).
- Once participants have completed the questionnaire, collect the questionnaires and thank them for their participation.
Reliability and Validity
The reliability of the Stress Appraisal Measure (SAM) has been assessed in a number of studies. The internal consistency of the SAM subscales is generally good, with alpha coefficients ranging from 0.74 to 0.90. However, the reliability of the Uncontrollable by Anyone subscale is lower (alpha = 0.51).
The test-retest reliability of the SAM has also been assessed. In one study, the SAM was administered to participants twice, with a two-week interval between administrations. The test-retest correlation coefficients for the SAM subscales ranged from 0.57 to 0.85.
The validity of the SAM has been assessed in a number of ways. The SAM subscales have been shown to correlate with other measures of stress-related constructs, such as coping, stress symptoms, and health outcomes. For example, the Threat and Harm subscales have been shown to correlate positively with measures of anxiety and depression. In contrast, the Challenge and Self-efficacy subscales have been shown to correlate negatively with measures of anxiety and depression.
The SAM has also been shown to be sensitive to changes in cognitive appraisal over time. For example, one study found that the SAM scores of participants who were participating in a stress management program decreased significantly over the course of the program.
Available Versions
28-Items
Reference
Peacock, E. J., & Wong, P. T. (1990). The stress appraisal measure (SAM): A multidimensional approach to cognitive appraisal. Stress medicine, 6(3), 227-236.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the SAM?
A: The SAM is a self-report questionnaire that assesses six dimensions of cognitive appraisal, which is the process of evaluating a situation as stressful or not.
Q: Who developed the SAM?
A: The SAM was developed by Edward J. Peacock in 1990.
Q: How is the SAM administered?
A: The SAM is typically administered individually or in groups. It takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.
Q: How is the SAM scored?
A: The SAM is scored by summing the scores for each item within a subscale. The six subscales are Challenge, Threat, Harm, Loss, Injustice, and Self-efficacy.
Q: How is the SAM interpreted?
A: The SAM scores can be interpreted in a variety of ways. For example, researchers may use the SAM scores to investigate the relationship between cognitive appraisal and other stress-related constructs, such as coping, stress symptoms, and health outcomes. Clinicians may use the SAM scores to assess individuals’ cognitive appraisal of stressful situations and to develop interventions to help them cope more effectively.
Q: Is the SAM reliable and valid?
A: Yes, the SAM is a reliable and valid measure of cognitive appraisal. It has been used in a wide range of research studies and has also been used in clinical settings.
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