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Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)

The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is a classic stress assessment instrument. The tool, while originally developed in 1983, remains a popular choice for helping us understand how different situations affect our feelings and our perceived stress. The questions in this scale ask about your feelings and thoughts during the last month. In each case, you will be asked to indicate how often you felt or thought a certain way. Although some of the questions are similar, there are differences between them and you should treat each one as a separate question. The best approach is to answer fairly quickly. That is, don’t try to count up the number of times you felt a particular way; rather indicate the alternative that seems like a reasonable estimate.

The PSS-10
The questions in this scale ask you about your feelings and thoughts during the last month.
In each case, you will be asked to indicate by sliding the scale between 0 and 4.

0 = Never. 1 = Almost never 2. Sometimes. 3. Fairly often. 4. Very often

l. In the last month, how often have you been upset because of something that
happened unexpectedly?*

l. In the last month, how often have you been upset because of something that
happened unexpectedly?*

Min 0
0
Max 4

2. In the last month, how often have you felt that you were unable to control the
important things in your life?*

2. In the last month, how often have you felt that you were unable to control the
important things in your life?*

Min 0
0
Max 4

3. In the last month, how often have you felt nervous and stressed?*

3. In the last month, how often have you felt nervous and stressed?*

Min 0
0
Max 4

4. In the last month, how often have you felt confident about your ability to handle
your personal problems?*

4. In the last month, how often have you felt confident about your ability to handle
your personal problems?*

Min 0
0
Max 4

5. In the last month, how often have you felt that things were going your way?*

5. In the last month, how often have you felt that things were going your way?*

Min 0
0
Max 4

6. In the last month, how often have you found that you could not cope with
all the things that you had to do?*

6. In the last month, how often have you found that you could not cope with
all the things that you had to do?*

Min 0
0
Max 4

7. In the last month, how often have you been able to control irritations in
your life?*

7. In the last month, how often have you been able to control irritations in
your life?*

Min 0
0
Max 4

8. In the last month, how often have you felt that you were on top of things?*

8. In the last month, how often have you felt that you were on top of things?*

Min 0
0
Max 4

9. In the last month, how often have you been angered because of things that
happened that were outside of your control?*

9. In the last month, how often have you been angered because of things that
happened that were outside of your control?*

Min 0
0
Max 4

10. In the last month, how often have you felt difficulties were piling up so high that
you could not overcome them?*

10. In the last month, how often have you felt difficulties were piling up so high that
you could not overcome them?*

Min 0
0
Max 4

What is your email address?*

What is your email address?*

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