The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21) is a set of three self-report scales designed to measure the emotional states of depression, anxiety and stress.
Each of the three DASS-21 scales contains 7 items, divided into subscales with similar content.
This test will help you understand your current mental health status and identify areas that might need attention.
0 / 21 questions completed
Please read each statement and indicate how much the statement applied to you over the past week.
There are no right or wrong answers.
Do not spend too much time on any statement.
1. I found it hard to wind down
2. I was aware of dryness of my mouth
3. I couldn't seem to experience any positive feeling at all
4. I experienced breathing difficulty (for example, excessively rapid breathing, breathlessness in the absence of physical exertion)
5. I found it difficult to work up the initiative to do things
6. I tended to over-react to situations
7. I experienced trembling (for example, in the hands)
8. I felt that I was using a lot of nervous energy
9. I was worried about situations in which I might panic and make a fool of myself
10. I felt that I had nothing to look forward to
11. I found myself getting agitated
12. I found it difficult to relax
13. I felt down-hearted and blue
14. I was intolerant of anything that kept me from getting on with what I was doing
15. I felt I was close to panic
16. I was unable to become enthusiastic about anything
17. I felt I wasn't worth much as a person
18. I felt that I was rather touchy
19. I was aware of the action of my heart in the absence of physical exertion (for example, sense of heart rate increase, heart missing a beat)
20. I felt scared without any good reason
21. I felt that life was meaningless
The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21) is a shortened version of the original DASS-42 scale developed by researchers at the University of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed to measure the three related negative emotional states of depression, anxiety and stress.
The DASS-21 is not a diagnostic tool but rather a way to measure the severity of symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and stress. It's widely used in both clinical settings and research due to its reliability and validity.
The DASS-21 consists of three subscales:
This scale assesses dysphoria, hopelessness, devaluation of life, self-deprecation, lack of interest/involvement, anhedonia (inability to experience pleasure), and inertia.
This scale assesses autonomic arousal, skeletal muscle effects, situational anxiety, and subjective experience of anxious affect.
This scale assesses difficulty relaxing, nervous arousal, being easily upset/agitated, irritable/over-reactive, and impatient.
The DASS-21 scores are calculated by summing the scores for the relevant items and multiplying by 2 to get comparable scores to the full DASS-42. The severity ratings are as follows:
The DASS-21 is not a diagnostic tool. High scores on this test do not automatically mean that you have a mental health disorder. However, they may indicate that you are experiencing significant symptoms that warrant further investigation.
If your scores indicate moderate to severe levels of depression, anxiety, or stress, it's recommended to consult with a mental health professional for a proper assessment and guidance.
Regardless of your scores, here are some general self-care strategies that can help improve mental well-being:
If you're experiencing significant symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress, consider reaching out to:
Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Many effective treatments are available for depression, anxiety, and stress-related conditions.