Validation and Reliability of the Revised Manipal Inventory of Academic Stress (MIAS) among Higher Secondary Students in Karnataka, India

The Manipal Inventory of Academic Stress (MIAS) is designed to assess academic stress among higher secondary students in Karnataka, India. This study aims to validate an updated version of the MIAS, refined to an 18-item scale from its original 19-item format. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 533 students (189 males and 344 females) from commerce and science streams. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a unidimensional model of the MIAS, explaining 40.3% of the variance. The MIAS demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.923) and significant positive correlations with the Perceived Stress Scale (r= 0.789, p<0.001) and the stress subscale of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21(r=0.707, p<0.001), along with a negative correlation with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (r=-0.751), indicating good concurrent and convergent validity. These findings underscore the MIAS’s efficacy as a screening tool for academic stress in the Indian educational context. Its application can facilitate timely interventions, such as counseling or stress management programs, potentially mitigating adverse mental health outcomes in this demographic.