INSTRUCTIONS:

The questions in this scale ask you about your feelings and thoughts during the last month. In each case, please indicate your response by choosing the answer representing HOW OFTEN you felt or thought a certain way.

ABOUT THE TEST: The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)* is the most widely used psychological instrument for measuring the perception of stress. It assesses the degree to which situations in one’s life are considered by the individual to be stressful. Items were designed to assess how unpredictable, uncontrollable, and overloaded respondents find their lives to be.

*Copyright © 1994 by Sheldon Cohen

 

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

Never

Almost Never

Sometimes

Fairly Often

Very Often

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

Never

Almost Never

Sometimes

Fairly Often

Very Often

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

Never

Almost Never

Sometimes

Fairly Often

Very Often

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

Never

Almost Never

Sometimes

Fairly Often

Very Often

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

Never

Almost Never

Sometimes

Fairly Often

Very Often

6.In the last month, how often have you found that you could not cope with all the things that you had to do?

Never

Almost Never

Sometimes

Fairly Often

Very Often

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

Never

Almost Never

Sometimes

Fairly Often

Very Often

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

Never

Almost Never

Sometimes

Fairly Often

Very Often

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

Never

Almost Never

Sometimes

Fairly Often

Very Often

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

Never

Almost Never

Sometimes

Fairly Often

Very Often