THE STRESS PROFILE - A PSYCHOSOCIAL APPROACH TO MEASURING STRESS

The Stress Profile is a psychosocial instrument for measuring stress i n life in general and at work at the levels of the individual, the gro up and the organization. It has been tested and standardized on more t han 4000 men and women. The present article outlines the design and th e developmental stages of the Profile. It also describes its use at in dividual and company levels. The impact of the scientific development of behavioural medicine has greatly improved and extended the applicat ion of behavioural methods. The Stress Profile is based on this method ological and scientific development. It is a questionnaire consisting of 224 questions, 20 of which concern background variables and ten cri teria. The remaining questions map a number of areas derived from curr ent stress research. The data are computer processed and a graphic pro file is produced. This presentation includes illustrations of results from Swedish companies, where the Stress Profile has been used.