DefinePK

Abstract

Trainee clinical psychologists typically encounter a profusion of stressors directly associated with their monitored clinical practicum, coursework, and research obligations. The existing research endeavor explored the experience and manifestation of psychosocial stressors among trainee clinical psychologists within the socio-cultural framework of Pakistan. In the phase-I, phenomenological approach was employed to elicit key dimensions of psychosocial stressors from 10 trainee clinical psychologists aged 22-32 years. In phase II, item level and scale level Content Validity Index (I-CVIs and S-CVI) were ensured. In phase III, pilot testing was conducted on 20 trainees (females = 18; males = 2). In phase IV, a sample of 200 trainee clinical psychologists (females = 92%; males = 8%) between the ages of 22-32 (M = 24.90; SD = 1.96) was tested for psychometric properties of Trainee Clinical Psychologists’ Stressors Scale along with Mental Health Professionals’ Stress Scale and Satisfaction with Life Scale (Urdu). The sample was selected through purposive sampling technique. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) unveiled three distinct domains of psychosocial stressors: supervisor related stressors, fears and apprehensions, and workload related stressors. A list of 25 items was finalized. The internal consistency, split-half reliability, test-retest reliability, construct validity, and discriminant validity of the new scale were satisfactory. The findings of this study are discussed in terms of implications for designing support system that respond to distinctive psychosocial stressors encountered by trainees who are the emerging backbone of the mental health support structure.