§ 01
Wellbeing (PSS-10)
Clinical fitness assessment

Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)

Measure the client's perceived psychological stress level over the past month — stress affects training response, recovery, and health.

Equipment

PSS-10 questionnaire (10 questions).

The protocol
  1. 01Explain to the client that this is optional and confidential.
  2. 02Read each question aloud or have the client read them independently.
  3. 03For each question, the client rates how often they have felt that way in the LAST MONTH: 0 = Never, 1 = Almost Never, 2 = Sometimes, 3 = Fairly Often, 4 = Very Often.
  4. 04Questions 4, 5, 7, and 8 are reverse-scored (positive questions).
  5. 05Sum all 10 scores for the total (0-40).
  6. 06Classify: 0-13 Low, 14-26 Moderate, 27-40 High stress.
What to watch for
  • Client may not answer honestly if they feel judged — emphasise there are no right or wrong answers.
  • High scores (27-40) may warrant referral for professional stress management or mental health support.
  • Do not use PSS-10 as a clinical diagnostic tool — it is a screening measure.
  • Track changes over time rather than relying on a single score.
Normative scoring

0-13: Low perceived stress. 14-26: Moderate perceived stress (population average is around 14-15). 27-40: High perceived stress — consider referral for stress management support.

Run it with GainPT

Run this test with branded client reports.

GainPT scores Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) against published normative data and turns it into a clean, GainPT-branded PDF your client keeps. All 47 clinical tests, unlimited retests — free to start, no card required.