Your DASS-21 results: what the depression, anxiety, and stress scores mean and what to do next
Your DASS-21 result is three scores about the past week. Read them as a description of how the week felt, not as a diagnosis. [3][5] A high score on any scale is a reason to talk to someone and to look at what is behind it, including work.
What should I do after I get a result?
Look at which scale stands out, and ask what the week contained. Then pick one step.
| If this stands out | It may suggest | A first step |
|---|---|---|
| Stress | A state of tension and difficulty relaxing. [2] | Look at demands and recovery. Try the shutdown routine and the workload audit. |
| Anxiety | Physical arousal and anxious feelings. [2] | Talk to a GP or counsellor, especially if it persists. |
| Depression | Low mood, loss of interest, low energy. [2] | The NHS advises seeing a GP if symptoms last most of the day, every day, for more than 2 weeks. [8] |
| All three | A lot is going on. | Do not wait. Speak to a doctor or counsellor. |
Does a high score mean I have depression or anxiety?
No. The developers say the DASS is not diagnostic, and the labels describe the population range. [3] A doctor or mental health professional can consider your answers alongside your history and circumstances. [5] A high score is a reason for that conversation, not a conclusion.
Can a low score rule out a problem?
No. The DASS covers one week and three kinds of emotional state. It does not ask about sleep, physical health, burnout, or what is happening at work. If you feel unwell despite a normal score, trust that and speak to a doctor.
How should I compare scores over time?
Use the same version, remember to double, and note what the week contained. Scores can move a lot from week to week, so a trend over several weeks says more than one result. We did not find a threshold for a meaningful change that we could verify.
What could I bring to a conversation?
Describe the week and what it affected. For example: "In the last week I found it hard to relax and I was on edge most days. Work has been very heavy. I would like to talk about what could help." You can show the result if it helps. You do not need to.
Where can I find support?
In the UK, the NHS says to call 999 for immediate danger, NHS 111 for urgent help that is not an emergency, and that Samaritans are on 116 123. [7] In the United States, call or text 988. [9] findahelpline.com lists services by country. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, tell someone and get urgent help now.
Common questions
My depression score is high. Does that mean I am depressed?
No. It means that, over the past week, the statements applied to you to a high degree. A doctor or mental health professional can consider your answers alongside your history. If low mood has lasted most of the day, every day, for more than 2 weeks, the NHS advises seeing a GP. [3][5][8]
Can I take the DASS-21 every week?
You can, because it asks about the past week. Look at the trend over several weeks rather than one result. We did not find a verified threshold for a meaningful change.
Sources and further reading
These links open external research and health-information websites.
- LuriaLab: DASS-21 test page
Twenty-one items, seven per subscale, past week, 0 to 3 scale, scoring statement, age 17+, and disclaimers. Read on 24 October 2026. - UNSW Psychology Foundation: Overview of the DASS
What the three scales cover, the 4-point rating, the past-week time frame, and the dimensional model. Read on 24 October 2026. - UNSW Psychology Foundation: DASS frequently asked questions
DASS-21 versus the full DASS, multiplying by 2, what the severity labels mean, that the DASS is not diagnostic, occupational stress, and age. Read on 24 October 2026. - DASS-21 response form (P. F. Lovibond, UNSW)
The 21 statements, the 0 to 3 labels, and the past-week instruction. - University of Bristol: DASS-21 scoring and interpretation
The sum-and-double instruction, the severity table, and the statement that the DASS is not a clinical instrument and cannot diagnose. - Henry and Crawford (2005): The short-form version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21): construct validity and normative data in a large non-clinical sample. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 44, 227-239
A UK general-population sample of 1,794 adults. Full text read. - NHS: Get help with stress
Signs of stress, when to see a GP, urgent help routes in the UK, and self-referral to NHS talking therapies. - NHS: Symptoms of clinical depression
Psychological, physical, and social symptoms, and the advice to see a GP if they last most of the day, every day, for more than 2 weeks. - NIMH: I'm so stressed out! Fact sheet
When to seek professional help, and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the United States.
This page is educational. A questionnaire score cannot establish a diagnosis or explain the cause of your symptoms. If you are struggling, speak with a doctor or mental health professional, whatever your score. Read when to get help for work stress or find a helpline in your country.