The digital transformation of China’s manufacturing industry has exacerbated employee stress, particularly in medium-sized enterprises. Existing stress measurement tools often focus on isolated stress factors, neglecting the complex interplay of personal, work-related, and technological influences. This study develops and validates a multidimensional instrument that integrates cognitive stress appraisal, emotional regulation, behavioral coping strategies, workload perception, AI-enabled ease of use (AI-EoU), and stress management. Survey data from 50 employees in medium-sized manufacturing firms were analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis(EFA), Cronbach’s ?, and Pearson correlations. The results demonstrate strong construct validity (KMO > 0.8) and high reliability (Cronbach’s ?> 0.88). This research extended the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping(TMSC) by positioning AI-EoU as a secondary appraisal resource highlighting its role in influencing stress adaptation in digitalized workplaces. The developed instrument offers firms a robust tool for evaluating and enhancing stress management predictors in technology-driven environments.
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