Validation of a One-Item Acute Stress Scale for Driving Tasks

Book chapter, 2024

Emergency personnel, such as ambulance crews and firefighters, must perform well both mentally and physically during emergency responses around the clock. Driving under high pressure is expected to be related to high acute stress, but still no validated subjective scale for acute stress is existing. The focus of this study is to validate a new stress scale called VTI Acute Stress Scale (VSS), a scale built on similar approach as the Karolinska sleepiness scale. In total, 49 participants (33 men and 16 women) were recruited among ambulance personnel and emergency response personnel in western Sweden. They drove a passenger car simulator with three scenarios designed to induce varying levels of perceived stress. The results showed that VSS could discriminate between the three driving tasks. The stress ratings were moderate throughout the trials, with no ratings above 7 on the 9-point scale. In conclusion, the VSS can be used to measure acute driver stress in moderately stressful driving conditions. Future studies need to be done during real road conditions.