Validation of the short form of the remote work stress scale

Purpose This study aims to develop and validate a reliable and psychometrically robust Short Form of the Remote Work Stress Scale (SRWSS), derived from the original 15-item RWSS. Design/methodology/approach Following the three-phase, nine-step scale development framework by Boateng et al. (2018), the study involved qualitative item generation, expert reviews, pilot study, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and validation with a sample of 602 remote workers from Türkiye. The short form was tested for reliability, validity and path analysis performed via SmartPLS with the original form and its sub-dimensions. Findings The SRWSS demonstrated excellent internal consistency (a = 0.88), strong construct and criterion validity, and a high correlation with the original scale (0.94). Results showed that female, highly educated and non-managerial employees reported higher levels of stress. Age was negatively correlated with stress levels. Research limitations/implications The sample is confined to a specific demographic (Turkish remote workers), necessitating cross-cultural validation to ensure generalizability. Practical implications The scale enables quick stress assessments to inform targeted interventions and HR strategies in remote and hybrid work settings. Social implications Findings highlight demographic disparities in remote work stress, informing equitable workplace policy development. Originality/value This study pioneers the development of a validated, unidimensional 5-item scale, offering a novel, efficient instrument for assessing remote work stress, enhancing research and practice in HRM.