Introduction: Understanding how stress manifests across different time frames is essential for selecting valid instruments and designing effective interventions in educational, occupational, and community contexts. Objective: To compare the psychometric properties of the general version (last 1-2 years) and the specific version (last month) of the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) adapted for the Ecuadorian adult population. Method: Following translation, back-translation, expert review, and two pilot tests (N = 600), both versions of the PSQ were administered to 395 participants for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and to 391 participants for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and invariance testing by sex. In addition, the four-factor model was confirmed in the general version using structural equation modeling (SEM). A non-clinical population was selected to obtain normative parameters representative of the general population. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega. Results: The general version exhibited a four-factor structure that accounted for 49.8% of the variance, while the specific version also yielded four factors, though with a different configuration, explaining 54.97% of the variance. In both versions, the first factor emerged as dominant, indicating the presence of a central dimension of psychological strain. Both versions demonstrated excellent internal consistency (α = 0,89 y α = 0,92). The CFA fit indices confirmed construct validity (CFI > 0,90; RMSEA < 0,06), as well as metric and scalar invariance by sex, supporting comparability across groups. Conclusions: The findings support the complementary use of both versions: the specific version for monitoring acute stress and the general version for longitudinal assessments. The results provide robust evidence of construct validity and offer normative data that can inform future research and guide the design of mental health interventions in Ecuadorian academic and community settings.