What Does Your Perceived Stress Scale Score Really Mean?
The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is one of the most widely used tools to measure how stressful life feels to you — not just the number of stressful events you face. Created by psychologist Sheldon Cohen in 1983, the PSS is a quick, scientifically validated stress questionnaire that helps you understand how unpredictable, uncontrollable, or overloaded your life feels. Unlike medical tests, the PSS focuses on perceived stress, making it a simple but powerful mental health stress test.