Stress Level Test (PSS-10)

Measure your perceived stress with the PSS-10, the most widely used stress questionnaire: 10 questions about how you have felt over the past month.

10 questions · About 3 minutes

Ten questions about the last month

The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) was developed by Sheldon Cohen, Tom Kamarck and Robin Mermelstein in 1983. It measures how stressful you find your life: how unpredictable, uncontrollable and overloaded.

For each question, choose how often you felt or thought that way during the last month. It takes about 3 minutes.

A screening tool, not a diagnosis. Your answers stay in your browser; nothing is stored or sent.

Understanding stress

Stress is the body's response to any demand or challenge. Short bursts of stress can help, sharpening focus and motivation, but chronic stress harms physical and mental health. The PSS-10 measures perceived stress, how stressful you judge your life to be, rather than counting stressful events.

Research links chronic stress to heart disease, weaker immunity, digestive problems, sleep disorders, anxiety and depression. The good news is that stress responds well to evidence-based approaches: regular exercise, mindfulness meditation, cognitive-behavioural techniques, social support and enough sleep. Knowing your stress level is the first step to managing it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)?

The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) was developed by Sheldon Cohen, Tom Kamarck, and Robin Mermelstein in 1983. It is the most widely used psychological instrument for measuring perceived stress. Rather than counting specific stressful events, it measures the degree to which life situations are appraised as stressful: how unpredictable, uncontrollable, and overloaded people find their lives.

What is the difference between stress and anxiety?

While stress and anxiety share similar symptoms (racing thoughts, tension, irritability), they have different causes. Stress is typically a response to an external trigger (work deadline, relationship conflict) and tends to resolve when the trigger is removed. Anxiety can persist without a clear external cause and involves excessive worry about future events. Chronic stress can lead to anxiety disorders if not managed effectively.

How can I reduce my stress levels?

Evidence-based stress reduction strategies include regular physical exercise (at least 150 minutes per week), mindfulness meditation, adequate sleep (7-9 hours), social connection, time in nature, limiting caffeine and alcohol, setting healthy boundaries, and cognitive restructuring techniques. For persistent high stress, professional support through therapy (particularly CBT) has strong evidence for effectiveness.