Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21)
Lovibond & Lovibond Three-Dimensional Emotional Assessment
Stressed, anxious, or feeling low? DASS-21 separates these three so you can see which one is really bothering you. 21 items covering depression, anxiety, and stress — 7 items per dimension. 4-point scale (0-3). Multiply raw scores ×2 for DASS-42 equivalent. Takes 5-8 minutes.
Three dimensions of distress
Emotional difficulties often overlap. Anxiety and depression frequently co-occur, and stress can amplify both. The DASS-21 measures three related but distinct dimensions: depression, anxiety, and stress.
Each of the 21 items asks about your experience over the past week, rated on a 0–3 scale. The three subscales (7 items each) provide separate scores for each dimension.
What the scores mean
Depression subscale:
- 0–9: Normal
- 10–13: Mild
- 14–20: Moderate
- 21–27: Severe
- 28+: Extremely severe
- 0–7: Normal
- 8–9: Mild
- 10–14: Moderate
- 15–19: Severe
- 20+: Extremely severe
- 0–14: Normal
- 15–18: Mild
- 19–25: Moderate
- 26–33: Severe
- 34+: Extremely severe
About this scale
Lovibond and Lovibond developed the DASS in 1995, with the 21-item short form (DASS-21) published shortly after. It has become a widely used measure of negative emotional states.
- Internal consistency: α = 0.88–0.93 (subscales)
- Test-retest reliability: r = 0.71–0.81
- Completion time: 5–10 minutes
Scoring Guide
Three dimensions of 7 items each: Depression(D), Anxiety(A), Stress(S). Multiply raw scores ×2 for DASS-42 severity labels. Cronbach's α: D=.91, A=.84, S=.90.Result Interpretation
After completing the 21 questions, you'll receive an immediate, detailed report with:
- Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
- Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
- Dimension breakdown — separate scores for each sub-scale
- Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available
All results are displayed on screen. No account or login needed.