Information Stress Assessment Test

Understand how information overload may be driving your stress in about 5 minutes. Get a fast snapshot of risk areas so you can reduce digital strain and prevent burnout.

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Questions: 45 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

27,091 view

1,746 completions

1,459 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

4/12

Behavioral Signs (BS)

Assesses behavioral changes linked to information overload, such as avoidance patterns, habit shifts, and reduced productivity.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 4: Low | 5 – 8: Moderate | 9 – 12: High

A score of 4 falls in the Low range, suggesting minimal behavioral signs of information stress with only occasional or mild changes in habits or productivity.

example score

3/12

Emotional Symptoms (ES)

Measures the severity of emotional symptoms associated with information overload, such as irritability, anxiety, and low mood.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 4: Low | 5 – 8: Moderate | 9 – 12: High

A score of 3 falls in the Low range, suggesting minimal emotional strain related to informational stress at this time.

example score

6/12

Physiological Symptoms (PS)

Measures the intensity of bodily symptoms associated with information overload, such as headaches, fatigue, and sleep disruption.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 4: Low | 5 – 8: Moderate | 9 – 12: High

A score of 6 falls in the Moderate range, indicating a noticeable but not severe level of physiological symptoms related to information stress.

example score

7/12

Cognitive Symptoms (CS)

Assesses intellectual signs of information stress such as reduced concentration, memory difficulties, and slower information processing under overload.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 4: Low | 5 – 8: Moderate | 9 – 12: High

A score of 7 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting noticeable but not severe difficulties with concentration, memory, and processing information when faced with high information flow.

example score

31/48

Stress Level (SL)

Assesses the overall intensity of stress reactions associated with information overload.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 12: Low | 13 – 40: Moderate | 41 – 48: High

A score of 31 falls in the Moderate range, indicating noticeable informational stress that is generally manageable with sufficient recovery and structured information habits.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Overloaded knowledge workers

41%OF USERS

People with constant emails, chats, and reports who feel drained, tense, or unable to focus by the end of the day.

Heavy social media consumers

33%OF USERS

Users who scroll and monitor updates often and notice anxiety, irritability, or sleep issues after taking in too much content.

Psychologists and HR specialists

26%OF USERS

Professionals who use a quick check to spot information-overload stress in clients or employees and choose practical coping strategies.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Behavioral Signs (BS)

Average

6.7

Normal range

4.6 — 8.8

min.

max.

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Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Emotional Symptoms (ES)

Average

7.7

Normal range

6.2 — 9.2

min.

max.

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Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Physiological symptoms (Ps)

Average

3.5

Normal range

1.2 — 5.7

min.

max.

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Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Intellectual traits (It)

Average

5.6

Normal range

3.6 — 7.6

min.

max.

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Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Stress level (Sl)

Average

18.4

Normal range

12.4 — 24.5

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

- Mostly negative thoughts
- Absent-mindedness or difficulty concentrating
- Worsened memory
- Getting stuck on one problem
- Increased distractibility
- Difficulty making decisions
- Poor sleep
- Frequent mistakes
- Passivity or wanting to shift responsibility to someone else
- Impaired logic or confused thinking
- Hasty and unjustified decisions
- Rigid, single-track thinking
- Pain in various parts of the body, headaches
- High or low blood pressure
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Digestive problems
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle tension
- Increased fatigue
- Trembling hands or muscle spasms
- New allergies or other skin rashes
- Increased sweating
- Lowered immunity or frequent minor illnesses
- Rapid weight gain or weight loss
- Worry or increased anxiety
- Suspiciousness
- Low mood
- Persistent sadness or depression
- Irritability; outbursts of anger
- Emotional numbness or indifference
- Cynical or inappropriate humor
- Decreased self-confidence
- Reduced satisfaction; loneliness
- Feelings of detachment
- Loss of interest in life
- Lower self-esteem; feelings of guilt or dissatisfaction with yourself or your work

These are 3 of the 4 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

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WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Information Stress Assessment Test - Symptoms and Signs

stress level

This brief self-report measure is designed to screen for perceived stress reactions associated with high information load. The Information Stress Assessment is intended for use in clinical or consultative settings where information-related strain is a relevant presenting concern.

The instrument consists of 4 items and typically requires about 5 minutes to complete. Responses are used to characterize the respondent’s current level of information-related stress and may help guide follow-up assessment, clinical interviewing, or monitoring over time. The Information Stress Assessment is cited in relation to stress and coping frameworks described by Richard S. Lazarus and Susan Folkman.

Author: Richard S. Lazarus, Susan Folkman

Literature: Eppler, M. J., & Mengis, J. The concept of information overload: A review of literature from organization science, accounting, marketing, MIS, and related disciplines. The Information Society. 2004.