PSS Scoring

PSS-10 scores are obtained by reversing the scores on the four positive items, e.g., 0=4, 1=3, 2=2, etc. and then summing across all 10 items.  Items 4,5, 7, and  8 are the positively stated items. 
  
PSS-4 scores are obtained by reverse coding items # 2 and 3.

PSS-14 scores are obtained by reversing the scores on the seven positive items, e.g., 0=4, 1=3, 2=2, etc., and then summing across all 14 items. Items 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 13 are the positively stated items.

The PSS was designed for use with community samples with at least a junior high school education,  The items are easy to understand and the response alternatives are simple to grasp.  Moreover, as noted above, the questions are quite general in nature and hence relatively free of content specific to any sub population group.  The data reported in the article are from somewhat restricted samples, in that they are younger, more educated and contain fewer minority members than the general population.  In light of the generality of scale content and simplicity of language and response alternatives, we feel that data from representative samples of the general population would not differ significantly from those reported in the article.

More information about obtaning scores for the 4, 10, and 14-item versions of the scale is linked here.


Page updated Feb. 23, 2010