Stress Screening English Test (PSS) Instruction The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is a classic stress assessment instrument. The tool, while originally developed in 1983, remains a popular choice for helping us understand how different situations affect our feelings and our perceived stress. The questions in this scale ask about your feelings and thoughts during the last month. In each case, you will be asked to indicate how often you felt or thought a certain way. Although some of the questions are similar, there are differences between them and you should treat each one as a separate question. The best approach is to answer fairly quickly. That is, don’t try to count up the number of times you felt a particular way; rather indicate the alternative that seems like a reasonable estimate: 1. In the last month, how often have you been upset because of something that happened unexpectedly?*NeverAlmost neverSometimesFairly OftenVery Often2. In the last month, how often have you felt that you were unable to control the important things in your life?*NeverAlmost neverSometimesFairly OftenVery Often3. In the last month, how often have you felt nervous and stressed?*NeverAlmost neverSometimesFairly OftenVery Often4. In the last month, how often have you felt confident about your ability to handle your personal problems?*NeverAlmost neverSometimesFairly OftenVery Often5. In the last month, how often have you felt that things were going your way?*NeverAlmost neverSometimesFairly OftenVery Often6. In the last month, how often have you found that you could not cope with all the things that you had to do?*NeverAlmost neverSometimesFairly OftenVery Often7. In the last month, how often have you been able to control irritations in your life?*NeverAlmost neverSometimesFairly OftenVery Often8. In the last month, how often have you felt that you were on top of things?*NeverAlmost neverSometimesFairly OftenVery Often9. In the last month, how often have you been angered because of things that happened that were outside of your control?*NeverAlmost neverSometimesFairly OftenVery Often10. In the last month, how often have you felt difficulties were piling up so high that you could not overcome them?*NeverAlmost neverSometimesFairly OftenVery Often