PSS-10 scores are obtained by reversing the scores on the four
positive items, e.g., 0=4, 1=3, 2=2, etc. and then summing across
all 10 items. Items 4,5, 7, and 8 are the positively
stated items.
PSS-4 scores are obtained by reverse coding items # 2 and 3.
PSS-14 scores are obtained by reversing the scores on the seven
positive items, e.g., 0=4, 1=3, 2=2, etc., and then summing across
all 14 items. Items 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 13 are the positively
stated items.
The PSS was designed for use with community samples with at least a junior high school education, The items are easy to understand and the response alternatives are simple to grasp. Moreover, as noted above, the questions are quite general in nature and hence relatively free of content specific to any sub population group. The data reported in the article are from somewhat restricted samples, in that they are younger, more educated and contain fewer minority members than the general population. In light of the generality of scale content and simplicity of language and response alternatives, we feel that data from representative samples of the general population would not differ significantly from those reported below.