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Stress & Wellbeing · 2 min · 10 questions

PSS-10: Perceived Stress Scale

Ten questions about how stressful life has felt over the past month. About 2 minutes.

Medical disclaimer: this is a validated screening questionnaire, not a diagnostic test. Only a qualified health professional can diagnose a condition. Your answers are processed in your browser and are never sent or stored.

PSS-10: 0 of 10 answeredScore: 0 / 40 · Low stress

In the last month, how often have you…

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

PSS-10 result

Answer all 10 questions for a complete result. Current partial score shown.

0
out of 40
Low stress
Range 0–13

Your responses suggest a low level of perceived stress.

Recommended next steps

  • Maintain current coping habits.
  • Re-check during demanding periods.

Answer the remaining questions to enable the report:

  • PSS-10:

Screening result only, not a diagnosis. Share it with a doctor or therapist.

PSS-10 scoring guide

ScoreInterpretationSuggested action
0–13Low stressMaintain current coping habits.
14–26Moderate stressIdentify your main stressors and which are changeable.
27–40High stressConsider support from a doctor or counsellor to reduce your stress load.

Clinical background

What it measures

The PSS-10 measures the degree to which situations in your life are appraised as stressful — how unpredictable, uncontrollable and overloaded things feel — rather than counting specific stressors.

How it is scored

Items are scored 0–4; items 4, 5, 7 and 8 are reverse-scored. Scores of 0–13 are considered low, 14–26 moderate and 27–40 high perceived stress (Cohen et al., 1983). The PSS is a stress measure, not a diagnostic instrument.

Reference: Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R. A global measure of perceived stress. J Health Soc Behav. 1983;24(4):385–396. Free to use without permission.