PSS-10

Perceived Stress Scale-10

The Perceived Stress Scale measures how overwhelmed you feel, developed by Sheldon Cohen at Carnegie Mellon. Ten questions, about three minutes. Lower scores mean less stress. It has been one of the most widely used stress measures since 1983.

The questions in this scale ask you about your feelings and thoughts during the last month. In each case, indicate how often you felt or thought a certain way. Answer based on how things have actually been.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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