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 in the article.
More information about obtaining scores for the
4, 10, and 14-item versions of the scale is linked here
Page updated Feb. 23, 2010