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Assessments

Who is the PSS-10 for? Workers, students, and adults

The PSS-10 is a general stress questionnaire for adults and older adolescents. LuriaLab lists it for ages 12 and over. [1] A review found that most psychometric evidence comes from college students and workers. [5] It is a personal reflection tool, not a basis for ranking or deciding about people.

Can working adults use the PSS-10?

Yes, and workers are among the groups it has been studied in. A review of 19 articles found that psychometric evidence was mostly from college students or workers. [5] A study of 992 service workers in Hong Kong supported a two-part structure and found that totals were associated with burnout and perceived workload. [4] The study used a convenience sample of mainly women, so it does not describe every occupation. [4]

Is it suitable for teenagers?

LuriaLab lists the PSS-10 for ages 12 and over. [1] LuriaLab's privacy policy states it does not knowingly collect data from people under 16, which sits oddly with that. Anyone under 16 should check with a trusted adult first. Our sources do not give a firm age rule for the instrument itself, and we do not invent one.

What should I check about a translated version?

The developers say most listed translations were not pre-tested by their lab and have unknown psychometric properties, and that some have published validation data. [2] If you take it in another language, treat any comparison with US norms as rough. [2]

Can employers use PSS-10 scores?

Employers should not use PSS-10 scores to judge individuals. The scale describes stress appraisal, it has no cut-offs, and a score cannot tell you whether a person is fit for a role. [2] If an employer wants to understand work stress, a work-design survey followed by conversation is more suitable. HSE's approach rests on six areas of work design. [3]

When might a different starting point be better?

If your question is about burnout at work, the OLBI. If it is about the impact of a problem on daily life, the WSAS. If it is about mood, anxiety, and tension, the DASS-21. And if you are in distress, speak to someone.

Sources and further reading

These links open external research and health-information websites.

  1. LuriaLab: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) test page
    Ten items, 0 to 4 scale, past month, reverse-scored items 4, 5, 7, and 8, total 0 to 40, reference bands, age 12+, and disclaimers. Read on 24 October 2026.
  2. Carnegie Mellon University: The Perceived Stress Scale
    The developers' page: versions, "not a diagnostic instrument; there are no score cut-offs", comparison within your own sample, time-frame comment, and translations. Read on 24 October 2026.
  3. HSE: What are the Management Standards?
    The six areas of work design that affect stress.
  4. Ng (2013): Validation of the 10-item Chinese Perceived Stress Scale in elderly service workers: one-factor versus two-factor structure. BMC Psychology, 1, 9
    A study of 992 workers in Hong Kong. Convenience sample, over 83% women, self-report only.
  5. Lee (2012): Review of the psychometric evidence of the Perceived Stress Scale. Asian Nursing Research, 6(4), 121-127
    A review of 19 articles on the PSS's psychometric properties. 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.