• The 10-item JSS subscales measure components of occupational stress associated with the job itself (Job Pressure) and with lack of support from supervisors, coworkers, or the policies and procedures of the organization (Lack of Organizational Support).
In addition to the scales and subscales, individual JSS items provide valuable information about the specific aspects of a particular job or a work environment that may be good targets for job redesign, organizational change, or other interventions.
Test materials include the JSS Professional Manual and the hand-scorable JSS Test Booklet. An optional computerized Scoring Program is also available. A special OCR-scannable test form (Form SP) has been developed for use with the scoring software (responses must be entered into the software) or for large group administrations or research projects.
Administration, Scoring, and Interpretation
A 6th-grade reading ability is generally sufficient to understand and respond to the JSS items. First, the individual rates the perceived severity of each of the 30 stressor events on a 9-point scale. Then the individual indicates (on a scale of 0 to 9+ days) how often each event has occurred during the preceding 6 months. Scores are then calculated for the three JSS scales and 6 subscales. To compare an individual’s scores with those of other workers in a particular normative group, percentile ranks and T scores can be obtained from the appendix tables in the Professional Manual.
Comparison of item scores with appropriate norms provides important information about how the stress experienced by an individual or group of employees compares with that of others engaged in similar activities. Scores may be plotted on the JSS Profile Form. Scoring Program users key the individual’s responses into the software, and the program rapidly calculates the raw scores, percentiles, and T scores.
The Professional Manual provides information on administration, scoring, and interpretation of the JSS, as well as the development and standardization of the instrument. Normative data were obtained from 2,173 adults employed in business and industry, university, and military settings. Normative groups include managers, professionals, clerical employees, skilled-trades or maintenance employees, and military personnel. Gender-specific and combined-gender norms are provided.
Computerized scoring program (JSS-SP) also is available!