The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) is the most widely used questionnaire for self-rating stress. It was developed by Cohen, Kamarck and Mermelstein in 1983 and measures how unpredictable and uncontrollable life felt over the past month. It assesses perceived stress rather than making a diagnosis.
How the questionnaire is built
The PSS-10 contains 10 items; each is rated on a 5-point frequency scale: 0 — never, 1 — almost never, 2 — sometimes, 3 — fairly often, 4 — very often. Some items are worded positively (for example, about a sense of control) and are scored in reverse. There are also the PSS-14 (the original) and the short PSS-4 versions.
What it shows and what it doesn't
High scores are linked to cortisol levels, immune measures and the risk of depression, infections and slower wound healing. Importantly, the PSS-10 is not a diagnostic tool; it has no clinical cut-offs, and it is more correct to compare your result with your own trend or with sample norms.
Reference ranges
The total score is the sum of the 10 items (after reverse-scoring the positive ones). The range is 0–40; approximate, non-clinical levels:
| Range | 0 – 40 points |
| Low stress | 0 – 13 |
| Moderate stress | 14 – 26 |
| High stress | 27 – 40 |
How the test is done
The instructions set the period — the past month. The respondent marks the frequency of each of the 10 experiences on a 0–4 scale. The four "positive" items (about a sense of control and confidence) are reversed: 0↔4, 1↔3, 2 stays. Then all 10 values are summed, giving 0–40. It takes 2–3 minutes to complete.
What affects the value
- Current mood and events of the last few days shift the answers.
- Socially desirable answers lower the total score.
- Different translations and versions (PSS-14 / PSS-4) give non-comparable totals.
- The absence of clinical cut-offs means the score is only relative.
Calculate using this marker
Calculators where PSS-10 scale is used directly:
Frequently asked questions
What PSS-10 score counts as "normal"?
There is no official norm: the scale has no clinical cut-offs. As a rough guide 0–13 is low, 14–26 moderate and 27–40 high, but it is more correct to compare your result with your own past values.
Does the PSS-10 make a diagnosis?
No. It is a screening self-questionnaire, not a diagnostic test. A high score is a reason to pay attention to your load and, if needed, discuss your state with a specialist, but on its own it is not a diagnosis.
Related terms
Sources
- Wikipedia — Perceived Stress Scale
- Laboratory for the Study of Stress, Immunity, and Disease (Carnegie Mellon University)