perceived stress scale pss-10 online test

Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)

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).

  1. In the last month, how often have you been upset because of something that happened unexpectedly?
    01234
  2. In the last month, how often have you felt that you were unable to control the important things in your life?
    01234
  3. In the last month, how often have you felt nervous and “stressed”?
    01234
  4. In the last month, how often have you felt confident about your ability to handle personal problems?
    01234
  5. In the last month, how often have you felt that things were going your way?
    01234
  6. In the last month, how often have you found that you could not cope with all the things you had to do?
    01234
  7. In the last month, how often have you been able to control irritations in your life?
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  8. In the last month, how often have you felt that you were on top of things?
    01234
  9. In the last month, how often have you been angered because of things outside your control?
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  10. In the last month, how often have you felt difficulties were piling up so high you could not overcome them?
    01234

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

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