Brief stress check (PSS-4)
Recent stress in four questions. Answer the app’s questionnaire and see your result right away.
Source · Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R. A global measure of perceived stress. J Health Soc Behav. 1983;24(4):385–396. CareOps English translation of its existing Korean questionnaire. Wording, response choices and descriptive score ranges follow the CareOps version and have not been independently validated in English. CareOps descriptive ranges are adapted from its PSS-10 ranges; they are not validated PSS-4 diagnostic cutoffs.
PSS-4: a one-minute stress check
The PSS-4 is a four-item short form of the Perceived Stress Scale developed by Cohen and colleagues in 1983. It asks how often in the past month you felt unable to control important things, confident handling personal problems, that things were going your way, and that difficulties were piling up too high. It suits moments when you want a quick check or want to repeat it often. This page uses an English translation of the CareOps version, which has not been independently validated in English.
Reading your results
The result screen shows 0–5 as lower stress, 6–10 as moderate and 11–16 as higher stress. These are CareOps descriptive ranges adapted from its PSS-10 ranges, not validated PSS-4 cutoffs. Two of the four items are positively worded and reverse-scored. With so few items, the score can move with a single day's mood, so if it comes out high, try the PSS-10 for a fuller picture.
| Score | Result range |
|---|---|
| 0–5 | Lower stress |
| 6–10 | Moderate stress |
| 11–16 | Higher stress |
A question to reflect on
Write down the one thing weighing on you most today and choose the smallest step you could finish this week. After you take that step, retake the PSS-4 and notice whether anything feels different.
Frequently asked questions
- How many questions are in Brief stress check (PSS-4), and how long does it take?
- There are 4 questions, and it usually takes about 1 minute. For each question you choose one of 5 answers, from “Never” to “Very often”. There are no right or wrong answers.
- Can four questions really tell me anything?
- They are useful for a quick read of the trend, but a short scale is sensitive to how you feel that day. If the result concerns you, the 10-item version gives a steadier picture.
- Can I take it every week?
- You can, but the questions refer to the past month, so weekly scores may not change much. Spacing checks a few weeks apart makes changes easier to see.
- Can I compare my PSS-4 and PSS-10 scores?
- Their maximum scores differ, so compare which range each falls in, lower, moderate or higher, rather than the raw numbers.
- What does my Brief stress check (PSS-4) score mean?
- On this Brief stress check (PSS-4) check, the result screen reads 0–5 lower stress, 6–10 moderate stress, 11–16 higher stress. A score is a starting point for reflection and conversation, not a diagnosis.
- Do I need to sign in? Are my answers saved?
- You can see your results right away without signing in. Your answers are used only for scoring and are not stored on our servers.
- Can I bring these results into a counseling session?
- Use the analysis button at the bottom of the result screen to have a short conversation with Maeumi without signing in. After the conversation, you can continue in the app. The web conversation does not transfer automatically to the app.
- Can I share my results with a friend?
- Yes. Use Share at the top right of the result screen to send a friend the check itself, or share your result as a link or story image. A result link carries your scores inside the address only; it does not include your name or account, and nothing is saved on our side.