Stress Vulnerability Scale (SVS)

Directions:

Following questionnaire is designed to help you discover your

vulnerability quotient and to pinpoint trouble spots.

Rate each item from 1 (always) to 5 (never), according to how

much of the time the statement is true of you.

Be sure to mark each item, even if it does not apply to you. for
example, if you don't smoke, circle 1 next to item six.

Always Frequently Neutral Sometimes Never

1. I eat at least one balanced meal a

1 2 3 4 5
day.

2. I only get 7-8 hours of sleep at

1 2 3 4 5
least four nights a week.

3. I give and receive affection

1 2 3 4 5
regularly.

4. I have at least one relative within

1 2 3 4 5
50 miles, on whom I can rely.

5. I exercise to the point of

1 2 3 4 5
perspiration at least twice a week.

6. I limit myself to less than half a

1 2 3 4 5
pack of cigarettes a day

7. I take fewer than five cups of tea

1 2 3 4 5
a week.

8. I am the appropriate weight for

1 2 3 4 5
me height.

9. I have money adequate to meet

1 2 3 4 5
basic expenses.
10. I get strength from my religious
1 2 3 4 5
beliefs.

11. I regularly attend social

1 2 3 4 5
activities.

12. I have a network of friends and

1 2 3 4 5
acquaintances.

13. I have one or more friends to

1 2 3 4 5
confide in about personal matters.

14.I am in good health (including

1 2 3 4 5
eye-sight, hearing, teeth).

15. I am able to speak openly about

1 2 3 4 5
my feelings when angry or worried.

16. I have regular conversations

with the people I live with about 1 2 3 4 5
domestic problems

17. I do something for fun at least

1 2 3 4 5
once a week.

18. I am able to organize my time

1 2 3 4 5
effectively.

19. I drink fewer than three cups of

1 2 3 4 5
coffee a day.

20. I take some quite time for

1 2 3 4 5
myself during the day.

Stress Vulnerability Scale (SVS)

For the assessment of vulnerability to psychological stress “Stress Vulnerability Scale”
(SVS) developed by Miller and Smith (1985) was used. This test measures the individual’s
vulnerability to stress that how much a person is prone to physical and psychological stress. It
contains 20 items arranged in a 5 point-Likert type scale. It entails degrees ranging from 1
(always) to 5 (never) respectively and the subject had to rate each item according to how much
of the time the statement was true of him/her.
Scoring of SVS
To get the final score, the score was added up and 20 was subtracted from the actual
score .A score below 10 indicates excellent resistance to stress. A score over 30 indicates some
vulnerability to stress; and subject is seriously vulnerable if his/her score is above 50.