Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)

Primary Reference: Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983). A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24, 385-396.

Purpose: To assess the degree to which people perceive their lives as stressful. High levels of stress are associated with poor self-reported health, elevated blood pressure, depression, and susceptibility to infection.

Description: Subjects indicate how often they have found their lives unpredictable, uncontrollable, and overloaded in the last month.

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Demographic Questions

Before taking the Perceived Stress Scale test, please answer the following five demographic questions. Families for Depression Awareness gathers demographic data in order to better understand and serve our audience. The results will only be used in aggregate.


Caregiver of a person with a mood disorder
Person with a mood disorder
I prefer not to answer


Under 18
18-25
26-40
41-64
65 or older
I prefer not to answer


Woman
Man
Transgender
Non-binary
I prefer not to answer


Yes, Hispanic, Latino or Spanish
No, not Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish
I prefer not to answer


American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian
Black, Afro-Caribbean, or African-American
Middle Eastern or North African
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
White or Euro-American
I prefer not to answer


Perceived Stress Scale Questions

Instructions:

The questions in this scale ask you about your feelings and thoughts during the last month. In each case, please indicate your response by selecting the button representing HOW OFTEN you felt or thought a certain way.

Never Almost Never Sometimes Fairly Often Very Often
1. In the last month, how often have you been upset because of something that happened unexpectedly?
2. In the last month, how often have you felt that you were unable to control the important things in your life?
3. In the last month, how often have you felt nervous and “stressed”?
4. In the last month, how often have you felt confident about your ability to handle your personal problems?
5. In the last month, how often have you felt that things were going your way?
6. In the last month, how often have you found that you could not cope with all the things that you had to do?
7. In the last month, how often have you been able to control irritations in your life?
8. In the last month, how often have you felt that you were on top of things?
9. In the last month, how often have you been angered because of things that were outside your control?
10. In the last month, how often have you felt difficulties were piling up so high that you could not overcome them?