PSS-4

Perceived Stress Scale-4

The Perceived Stress Scale-4 is a one-minute stress measure, using a published subset of the PSS-10 items. Four questions, about a minute. Lower scores mean less stress. It tracks the same construct as the PSS-10 in less time.

The questions ask about your feelings and thoughts during the last month. For each, say how often you felt or thought that way. Answer based on how things have actually been.

0/4

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

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

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

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

Cohen, S., & Williamson, G. (1988). Perceived stress in a probability sample of the United States. In S. Spacapan & S. Oskamp (Eds.), The Social Psychology of Health. Items are a published subset of the PSS-10 (Cohen, Kamarck & Mermelstein, 1983). Free to use; no permission required.