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.
Understanding your PSS-4 result
Brief stress check is explored with 4 questions, using the same questionnaire and scoring as the app. During the past month, how often have you felt or thought the following? The app uses a CareOps translation; it is not presented as a standardized local-language edition.
Reading your results
Read the scored total together with the answer summary. A screening score alone does not establish a diagnosis or explain the cause. The displayed ranges follow the app’s existing scoring and are not population percentiles.
A question to reflect on
When there is a lot to do, is it hard to decide where to begin? Explore brief stress check in everyday situations with Maeumi, and consider a practical next step together.
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.
- What does this PSS-4 check explore?
- Brief stress check is explored with 4 questions, using the same questionnaire and scoring as the app. During the past month, how often have you felt or thought the following? The app uses a CareOps translation; it is not presented as a standardized local-language edition.
- How should I interpret the score?
- Read the scored total together with the answer summary. A screening score alone does not establish a diagnosis or explain the cause. The displayed ranges follow the app’s existing scoring and are not population percentiles.
- What could I discuss after the check?
- When there is a lot to do, is it hard to decide where to begin? Explore brief stress check in everyday situations with Maeumi, and consider a practical next step together.
- 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 send this check to a friend?
- Use Share test at the top of the screen to share the questionnaire link. This link does not contain your answers, result, name or account.
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.