PhenX - perceived stress protocol 180801

Perceived stress proto

Definition

This 10-item self-administered scale is used to measure an individual's level of perceived stress in the past month. As a result, it measures only current (not chronic) levels of perceived stress. The 10-item Perceived Stress Scale and scoring are available from Dr. Cohen's laboratory through the Carnegie Mellon University Department of Psychology website. Permission for use of scales is not necessary when use is for nonprofit academic research or educational purposes. The PSS is not a diagnostic instrument and there are no cut-offs for classification of responders into "high," "medium," or "low" stress. It is generally used as an ordinal scale or count measure. Psychometric properties have not been collected on other time periods. The PSS was designed for use with community samples with at least a junior high school education. There are also 4- and 14-item versions of this scale available. The 10-item scale is recommended because it has been psychometrically tested, has been used in large population-based studies, and represents low respondent burden.