The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) is a widely used self-report questionnaire designed to measure the level of stress an individual has experienced over the past month.
Developed by Cohen and colleagues in 1983, this 10-item tool evaluates how unpredictable, uncontrollable, and overwhelming respondents perceive their lives.
It includes six negatively phrased and four positively phrased items, scored on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (very often).
The positively phrased items are reverse-coded, and total scores range from 0 to 40, with higher scores reflecting greater perceived stress.
Commonly used with adults and individuals aged 12 and older, the PSS-10 has been instrumental in research exploring the relationship between stress and health outcomes.
Take the PSS-10 test
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) Calculator
Please rate how often you felt or thought a certain way during the past month. Use the scale from 0 (Never) to 4 (Very Often).
Reference
Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983). A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24(4), 385–396. https://doi.org/10.2307/2136404