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Assessments

Who is the DASS-21 for? Adults, workers, and clinicians

The DASS-21 is designed for adults and older adolescents who want to describe their recent emotional state. LuriaLab lists it for ages 17 and over. [1] Its developers describe the DASS-21 as often best for research purposes, and say the full DASS is often preferable for clinical work. [3]

Who can use the DASS-21?

Adults who want to describe how the past week has felt. The developers say the DASS can be used from age 14 with typical language skills, and recommend the DASS-Y for younger children. [3] LuriaLab lists 17 and over. [1] Its normative data come from a UK general-population sample of 1,794 adults. [6]

Is it for people at work?

It is not a workplace measure, but it fits many people's experience of work stress, which the developers say probably involves all three DASS syndromes. [3] The normative sample was a general adult population, not workers specifically. [6]

Can employers use it with staff?

Not to screen or judge people. The DASS is not diagnostic, and a label cannot tell you whether a person is well. [3][5] A manager who learns someone has a "severe" score has information that may be misleading and certainly sensitive. If you want to understand work stress, use a work-design approach and talk to people.

When is a different starting point better?

For work burnout, start with the OLBI. For a general stress snapshot over a month, start with the PSS-10. For impact on daily life, start with the WSAS. If you are in distress, speak to someone first.

Sources and further reading

These links open external research and health-information websites.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. DASS-21 response form (P. F. Lovibond, UNSW)
    The 21 statements, the 0 to 3 labels, and the past-week instruction.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.

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.