Cohen et al reported the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) for evaluating perceived stress in the last month. The authors are from Carnegie Mellon University and University of Oregon.
The person is asked "How often in the past month have you...."
Items
(1) been upset because of something that happened unexpectedly
(2) felt unable to control the important things in your life
(3) felt nervous and "stressed"
(4) dealt successfully with irritating life hassles
(5) were effectively coping with important changes that were occurring in your life
(6) felt confident about your ability to handle personal problems
(7) felt that things were going your way
(8) felt you could not cope with all the things you had to do?
(9) been able to control irritations in your life
(10) felt you were on top of things
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Responses
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Negative (1, 2, 3, 8)
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Positive (4, 5, 6, 7, 9.10)
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never
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1
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5
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almost never
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2
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4
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sometimes
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3
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3
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fairly often
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4
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2
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very often
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5
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1
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total score =
= SUM(points for all of the parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 10
• maximum score: 50
score as percent of maximum =
= ((total score) - 10) / 40 * 100%
There are variations of this score, with slightly different wording or by swapping out questions such items 5 for the following:
• angered because of things that were outside of your control?
• felt difficulties were piling up so high that you could not overcome them
