Perceived Stress Scale

Perceived Stress Scale

The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is a psychological instrument designed to measure the perception of stress. It is a widely used tool in the field of psychology to assess how different situations affect an individual's feelings and perceived stress levels.

Development

The Perceived Stress Scale was developed by Sheldon Cohen and his colleagues in 1983. The scale was created to provide a measure of the degree to which situations in one s life are appraised as stressful. The PSS is based on the idea that stress is a subjective experience and that individuals perceive and react to stressors differently.

Structure

The PSS consists of a series of questions that ask respondents about their thoughts and feelings during the last month. The original scale includes 14 items, but shorter versions with 10 and 4 items have also been developed. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (very often).

Scoring

The scores for the PSS are obtained by reversing the scores on the four positive items, for example, 0 = 4, 1 = 3, 2 = 2, etc., and then summing across all scale items. Higher scores indicate higher perceived stress.

Applications

The Perceived Stress Scale is used in a variety of settings, including clinical psychology, health psychology, and occupational health. It is often used in research to examine the relationship between stress and health outcomes, such as cardiovascular disease, depression, and anxiety.

Limitations

While the PSS is a useful tool for measuring perceived stress, it is important to note that it is a subjective measure and may not capture all aspects of stress. Additionally, cultural differences in the perception of stress may affect the validity of the scale across different populations.

See Also

• Stress (biology)
• Coping (psychology)
• Psychological stress

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