Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)
How much stress have you felt in the past month?
How stressed have you felt over the past month? The PSS-10 measures perceived stress - not how many things are on your plate, but how much of it feels out of control. 10 items, about 3 minutes.
Stress gets thrown around so much it is easy to lose track of what it actually means. It is not about how many things you have to do - it is about how much of it feels outside your control.
The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) measures exactly that. Cohen, Kamarck, and Mermelstein designed it in 1983, and it has been the go-to way to quantify perceived stress in research and clinical work ever since.
The 10 items ask about your thoughts and feelings over the last month - how often have you felt confident handling problems? How often have things gone your way? How often have you felt overwhelmed? Each item uses a 5-point frequency scale.
The PSS-10 holds up well psychometrically. It does not diagnose stress disorders - it measures how much stress you are perceiving, which often matters more than how many stressors you actually have.
Scoring Guide
PSS-10 reverse scoring: Items 4, 5, 7, 8 are reverse-scored (0→4, 1→3, 2→2, 3→1, 4→0). Total = sum of direct items + sum of reversed items. Range: 0-40.Result Interpretation
Finish the 10 questions and you get your results straight away — no account, no sign-up, no waiting.
We calculate your total from your answers, then give you a plain-language explanation of what the numbers mean. Whenever possible, we also show how your results compare to population norms.
详细报告 📊
Get an in-depth analysis with dimension breakdowns, population comparisons, and actionable recommendations.