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.
How stressed have you felt lately?
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 and colleagues originally designed it in 1983, and it has been a standard way to quantify perceived stress in research 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 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.
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Get an in-depth analysis with dimension breakdowns, population comparisons, and actionable recommendations.