DASS-21 questions, 0 to 3 answer choices, and which items belong to which scale
The DASS-21 has 21 statements. You rate how much each applied to you over the past week, from 0 (did not apply to me at all) to 3 (applied to me very much, or most of the time). [4] Seven statements belong to each of the three scales.
What are the DASS-21 answer choices?
The developers' form asks you to read each statement and choose 0, 1, 2, or 3 for how much it applied to you over the past week, and says there are no right or wrong answers. [4]
| Number | Label on the form |
|---|---|
| 0 | Did not apply to me at all |
| 1 | Applied to me to some degree, or some of the time |
| 2 | Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of the time |
| 3 | Applied to me very much, or most of the time |
Which items belong to which scale?
The standard scoring key gives each scale seven statements, and the content of each statement on the form fits its scale. [4][5]
| Scale | Statements |
|---|---|
| Depression | 3, 5, 10, 13, 16, 17, and 21 |
| Anxiety | 2, 4, 7, 9, 15, 19, and 20 |
| Stress | 1, 6, 8, 11, 12, 14, and 18 |
For example, statement 1 is "I found it hard to wind down" and statement 12 is "I found it difficult to relax," both in the stress scale. Statement 2 is "I was aware of dryness of my mouth," in the anxiety scale. [4]
Which time period should I answer about?
Answer about the past week, including today. [4] Do not average the last few months. A single stressful week can lift scores, and a calmer week can lower them. That is why it is more useful to repeat it than to rely on one result.
How should I answer?
The form tells you not to spend too much time on any statement. [4] Go with your first honest answer. Do not try to average, justify, or minimise.
What if I miss a question, or use the 42-item version?
Online forms require every answer. The developers also publish the original 42-item DASS, and the FAQ says the full version gives somewhat more reliable scores and more symptom-specific information, but takes about twice as long. It describes the DASS-21 as "often best for research purposes" and the full DASS as "often preferable for clinical work." [3] Scores from the two are comparable only after doubling the DASS-21 scores. [3]
What about translations and age?
LuriaLab lists the DASS-21 for ages 17 and over. [1] The developers' FAQ says the DASS can be used from age 14 with typical language skills, and recommends the separate DASS-Y for children under 14. [3] Translations may behave differently from the English original.
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.
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.