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. 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
Each subscale gives a separate score; higher scores indicate more distress in that dimension.
About this scale
Lovibond and Lovibond developed the DASS in 1995, with the 21-item short form (DASS-21) published shortly after. It's now a common choice when you need to screen for stress, anxiety, and depression.
- Internal consistency: α = 0.88–0.93 (subscales)
- Test-retest reliability: r = 0.71–0.81
- Completion time: 5–10 minutes
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.