Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40724147›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of environmental research and public health2025

Digital Stress Scale (DSC): Development and Psychometric Validation of a Measure of Stress in the Digital Age.

Agathi Argyriadi, Dimitra Katsarou, Athina Patelarou, Kalliopi Megari, Evridiki Patelarou, Stiliani Kotrotsiou, Konstantinos Giakoumidakis, Shabnam Abdoola, Evangelos Mantsos, Efthymia Efthymiou and 1 more

Abstract readValidation Study
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Digital Exposure in Early Childhood: Health Risks and Protective Strategies During Remote Learning.Inquiry : a journal of medical care organization, provision and financing
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Agathi ArgyriadiDepartment of Psychology, Frederick University, Nicosia 1036, Cyprus.
Dimitra KatsarouDepartment of Preschool Education Sciences and Educational Design, University of the Aegean, 85100 Rhodes, Greece.ORCID 0000-0001-8690-0314
Athina PatelarouDepartment of Nursing, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece.ORCID 0000-0002-0300-0650
Kalliopi MegariDepartment of Psychology, City College, University of York, Europe Campus, 54622 Thessaloniki, Greece.ORCID 0000-0002-5861-7199
Evridiki PatelarouDepartment of Nursing, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece.ORCID 0000-0002-0892-3200
Stiliani KotrotsiouDepartment of Nursing, University of Patras, 26504 Patra, Greece.ORCID 0000-0003-3246-948X
Konstantinos GiakoumidakisDepartment of Nursing, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece.ORCID 0000-0002-2169-7746
Shabnam AbdoolaDepartment of Speech and Language Pathology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates.ORCID 0000-0003-2930-2259
Evangelos MantsosDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece.ORCID 0009-0002-8490-2660
Efthymia EfthymiouDepartment of Interdisciplinary Studies, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi 144534, United Arab Emirates.ORCID 0000-0003-0411-1720
Alexandros ArgyriadisDepartment of Nursing, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

(1) Background: The integration of digital technologies such as electronic health records (EHRs), telepsychiatry, and communication platforms has transformed the mental health sector a lot compared to in previous years. While these tools enhance service delivery, they also introduce unique stressors. Despite growing concerns, there is no validated instrument specifically designed to measure the digital stress experienced by mental health professionals. (2) Methods: This study involved the development and psychometric validation of the Digital Stress Scale (DSC). The process included item generation through a literature review and qualitative interviews, expert panel validation, and a two-phase statistical evaluation. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were conducted on responses from 423 licensed mental health professionals using EHRs and digital communication tools. The scale's reliability and convergent validity were assessed via internal consistency and correlations with established mental health measures. (3) Results: The final DSC included four subscales: digital fatigue, technostress, digital disengagement, and work-life digital boundaries. CFA supported the factor structure (CFI = 0.965, RMSEA = 0.038), and the overall reliability was acceptable (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.87). Descriptive analysis showed moderate-to-high levels of digital stress (M = 11.94, SD = 2.72). Digital fatigue was the strongest predictor of total stress (β = 1.00,

Indexed as

Digital TechnologyHealth PersonnelStress, PsychologicalAdultElectronic Health RecordsFactor Analysis, StatisticalFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPsychometricsReproducibility of ResultsSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung Adultdigital fatiguedigital stressEHRsmental healthtechnostresstelepsychiatrywork–life balance

Identifiers

PMID40724147
PMCPMC12295164

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.