Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)


How do people perceive their stress?

The Perceived Stress Scale is a 10-question measure of the degree to which situations in people's lives are valued as stressful. The questions measure one variable: Percieved Stress. This survey can be used to explore relationships between percieved stress and emotion regulation, growth mindset, and lonliness. Past research suggests that higher perceived stress has been associated with failure to quit smoking, failure among diabetics to control blood sugar levels, and in general, greater vulnerability to stressful life-event-elicited depressive symptoms (Cohen 1983).

Resources:
  • Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., and Mermelstein, R. (1983). A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24, 386-396.
  • Cohen, S. and Williamson, G. Perceived Stress in a Probability Sample of the United States. Spacapan, S. and Oskamp, S. (Eds.) The Social Psychology of Health. Newbury Park, CA: Sage, 1988

Parameters
  • This survey cannot be tweaked.
Disclaimer
Any languages that are currently offered besides English for this survey are not necessarily validated translations. This survey was translated using Google Translate and verified by members of the community.

What data is collected? How is it scored?
The following variables are recorded:
  • PSS_total:Higher scores mean participants feel they have more percieved stress.
Raw data: 10 questions combined to make 1 variable (percieved stress). The variable's score ranges from 10-50.

Calculation:
The total score is determined by summing the scores of the questions. The Likert scale ranges from 1 ("strongly disagree") to 5 ("strongly agree"), so the average of the scores will also range from 10-50.

  • PSS_total: Average of questions 1-10

Background

In this survey, you are asked to rate your stress during the last month.

What participants see before taking the survey

In this survey, you are asked to rate your stress during the last month.

What participants see after taking the survey

This survey can be used to explore relationships between percieved stress and emotion regulation, growth mindset, and lonliness. Past research suggests that higher perceived stress has been associated with failure to quit smoking, failure among diabetics to control blood sugar levels, and in general, greater vulnerability to stressful life-event-elicited depressive symptoms (Cohen 1983).

Aggregate Variables

These data are automatically written to a csv file upon completion of the survey

more info

Measures general stress levels

  • PSS_total

Scoring

The total score is determined by summing the scores of the questions. The Likert scale ranges from 1 ("strongly disagree") to 5 ("strongly agree"), so the average of the scores will also range from 10-50.

Format

This is a Likert-scale survey.

Duration

2 mins

Resources

  • Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., and Mermelstein, R. (1983). A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24, 386-396.
  • Cohen, S. and Williamson, G. Perceived Stress in a Probability Sample of the United States. Spacapan, S. and Oskamp, S. (Eds.) The Social Psychology of Health. Newbury Park, CA: Sage, 1988

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