Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21)
Psychology: Mental HealthReliability: alphas 0.88–0.94 across three subscales3 sample items
About this scale
A 21-item self-report measure with 7-item subscales for depression, anxiety, and stress. Highly used in cross-cultural research.
Sample item(s)
“I couldn't seem to experience any positive feeling at all (depression)”
“I felt scared without any good reason (anxiety)”
“I found it hard to wind down (stress)”
Reliability
Reported internal consistency: alphas 0.88–0.94 across three subscales. As a rule of thumb, Cronbach’s α ≥ .70 is considered acceptable, ≥ .80 good, and ≥ .90 excellent for established measures.
Notes
Free for academic use.
Source & citation
Lovibond, S. H., & Lovibond, P. F. (1995): Manual for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (2nd ed.). Sydney: Psychology Foundation.
Source. Scale details are summarised from the publication cited above. Always consult the original source for the full item set, scoring, and permission to use.
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