Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)

Aim
To find out the amount of stress the subject perceives they have undergone over the
last 2 weeks.
Basic Concept
- Stress – definition
- Types of stress
- Signs of stress (physiological, emotional, behavioural, cognitive)
- Body’s response to stress
- What is perceived stress?
Introduction to the test
The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) is a 10-item questionnaire originally developed by
Cohen et al. (1983) widely used to assess stress levels in young people and adults aged 12
and above. It evaluates the degree to which an individual has perceived life as unpredictable,
uncontrollable and overloading over the previous month.
Demographic details
Name
Gender
Age
Class
Time
Materials Required
Perceived stress scale, pen, pencil, eraser
Precaution
Optimal conditions for testing were ensured before the test begun. If the subject got
stuck on a question, then they should as the tester for clarification. The tester should ensure
that no question is left unanswered.
Rapport Formation
Rapport was established between the subject and the tester, prior to the test so that
he/she could feel comfortable and at ease. In such a state, she/he should answer the questions
in a calm manner and any doubts should be cleared before starting the test.
Instructions
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.
Administration
The subject took the test while the examiner made sure all the questions were
answered and nothing was left out.
Scoring
PSS scores can be made by summing across all 10 items. Scores can range from 0 to
40, with higher scores indicating greater stress. The following items are reverse coded:
4,5,7,8.
► Scores ranging from 0-13 would be considered low stress.
► Scores ranging from 14-26 would be considered moderate stress.
► Scores ranging from 27-40 would be considered high perceived stress.
Interpretation
PUT YOUR OWN
Conclusions
PUT YOUR OWN