The DASS-21 (Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale) is a commonly used self-report scale used to assess an individual’s emotional state in terms of depression, anxiety, and stress. It was developed by Lovibond (1995) and has been widely used in many studies and clinical practice.
The DASS-21 contains three subscales that assess depression, anxiety, and stress respectively. Each subscale consists of 7 items, for a total of 21 items. Subjects responded using a 4-point scale (ranging from 0 (not consistent) to 3 (always consistent)) based on how they felt in the past week. Please read each entry carefully and select the level of options in each entry that apply to your situation based on your situation over the past week. Please answer each item; there are no right or wrong choices.
The DASS-21 can help individuals and professionals understand and provide a reference for emotional states, but it is not a tool for diagnosing mental illness. If you are experiencing severe emotional distress, please consult a medical professional or mental health professional for help.
illustrate:
- A depression score of ≤9 is classified as normal, 10-13 is classified as mild, 14-20 is classified as moderate, 21-27 is classified as severe, and ≥28 is classified as very serious;
- An anxiety score of ≤7 is considered normal, 8-9 is considered mild, 10-14 is considered moderate, 15-19 is considered severe, and ≥20 is considered very serious;
- A stress score of ≤14 is classified as normal, 15-18 is classified as mild, 19-25 is classified as moderate, 26-33 is classified as severe, and ≥34 is classified as very serious.
references:
Gong Xu, Xie Xiyao, Xu Rui, & Luo Yuejia. (2010). Test report of the simplified Chinese version of the Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS-21) among Chinese college students. Chinese Journal of Linchuan Psychology, 18(4), 443-446.
