Home1
Psychological tests2
Preschool Emotional Distress Scale3

Preschool Emotional Distress Scale Test

Designed for adults observing a young child, the Preschool Emotional Distress Scale Test contains 25 questions and takes about 5 minutes. It highlights patterns in emotional and behavioral functioning, including distress, anxiety, withdrawal, and self-regulation, helping caregivers organize observations and identify areas that may need closer attention.

Questions: 255 minutes

Preschool Emotional Distress Scale: situation and reply bubbles

October 2, 2025October 2, 2025Material has been updatedOctober 2, 2025Material has been published

17,877 views

1,301 completion

1,099 likes

Daniel Hall Psychologist · Test reviewer

1,099 likes

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

Hyperactivity/DisinhibitionH

Measures the degree of excessive activity, impulsivity, and self-regulation difficulties observed in the child.

example score10/20

10/20Moderateexample score

0 – 4Low

5 – 12Moderate

13 – 20High

A score of 10 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting noticeable hyperactive or disinhibited behaviors that may affect self-control in everyday settings.

Maladaptive BehaviorMB

Measures the degree of behavioral difficulties that may interfere with a child's adaptation and functioning in a group setting.

example score12/20

12/20Elevatedexample score

0 – 7Low

8 – 20Elevated

A score of 12 falls in the Elevated range, suggesting more frequent or noticeable behaviors that may make group adaptation more difficult.

DepressionD

Assesses signs of low mood, apathy, and reduced interest that may reflect depressive tendencies in a preschool child.

example score12/20

12/20Highexample score

0 – 3Low

4 – 8Moderate

9 – 20High

A score of 12 falls in the High range, indicating more frequent or noticeable signs of low mood, apathy, or reduced interest as reported by the caregiver.

AnxietyA

Measures the child’s level of anxious symptoms such as worry, fears, and insecurity as observed by caregivers.

example score11/20

11/20Moderateexample score

0 – 4Low

5 – 11Moderate

12 – 20High

A score of 11 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting noticeable anxiety-related behaviors that may affect comfort or confidence in daily situations.

Social WithdrawalSW

Assesses the extent of a child's difficulties in initiating and maintaining social contact with others.

example score7/20

7/20Moderateexample score

0 – 3Low

4 – 11Moderate

12 – 20High

A score of 7 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting noticeable but not severe challenges with social contact and engagement.

Emotional Distress and Atypical BehaviorEDaAB

Measures the overall level of emotional distress and atypical behavior in preschool children as reported by a caregiver or parent.

example score50/100

50/100Highexample score

0 – 13Low

14 – 44Moderate

45 – 100High

A score of 50 falls in the High range, suggesting a higher level of emotional distress and atypical behavior compared with typical expectations.

just completed the test

DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Parents of preschoolers

46%OF USERS

Parents complete it when they notice mood changes, worries, clinginess, sleep issues, or difficult behavior and want a quick snapshot of their child’s emotional well-being.

Kindergarten teachers

32%OF USERS

Educators use it to document behaviors seen in class and identify children who may need extra support with emotions, routines, or peer interactions.

Child psychologists and counselors

22%OF USERS

Specialists use it for screening and progress monitoring to guide early intervention plans and track changes over time.

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.

Shaded area — where most people score

Dot — the average

You — your score lands on each curve after the test— your score, after the test

Hyperactivity/DisinhibitionH

You?

Average13.2

Typical rangeTypical9.7 – 16.7

Possible0 – 20

Maladaptive BehaviorMB

You?

Average6.4

Typical rangeTypical3.3 – 9.5

Possible0 – 20

DepressionD

You?

Average7.5

Typical rangeTypical4.4 – 10.5

Possible0 – 20

AnxietyA

You?

Average11.9

Typical rangeTypical8.6 – 15.2

Possible0 – 20

Non-contact behaviorNb

You?

Average6.7

Typical rangeTypical3.3 – 10.2

Possible0 – 20

Emotional Distress and Atypical Behavior ScaleEDaABS

You?

Average46.3

Typical rangeTypical33.4 – 59.3

Possible0 – 100

Featured On

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

- Almost never (less than 5% of the time/instances)
- Sometimes (less than 25% of the time/instances)
- Often (less than 50% of the time/instances)
- Most of the time (more than 50% of the time/instances)
- Almost always (more than 95% of the time/instances)
- Almost never (less than 5% of the time/instances)
- Sometimes (less than 25% of the time/instances)
- Often (less than 50% of the time/instances)
- Most of the time (more than 50% of the time/instances)
- Almost always (more than 95% of the time/instances)
- Almost never (less than 5% of the time/instances)
- Sometimes (less than 25% of the time/instances)
- Often (less than 50% of the time/instances)
- Most of the time (more than 50% of the time/instances)
- Almost always (more than 95% of the time/instances)

These are 3 of the 25 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

Preschool Emotional Distress Scale Test - Description and methodology of the test

depression

deviant behavior

uneasiness

Caregivers, educators, and other adults who know a young child can use the Preschool Emotional Distress Scale Test to review a profile of mood, relationships, behavior, and self-regulation across everyday settings. Its frequency-based format is central to a preschool child behavior assessment: it records how often an adult observes a behavior rather than treating it as present or absent, helping guide discussion of patterns for monitoring or support.

What This Assessment Measures

Items cover social connection, anxiety, mood, activity, attention, aggression, repetitive behavior, and reactions to change. This preschool emotional assessment links observable signs with behavior.

Its six dimensions are:

Hyperactivity/Disinhibition (0-20) measures excessive activity, impulsivity, and self-regulation difficulties: Low 0-4; Moderate 5-12; High 13-20.
Maladaptive Behavior (0-20) measures behavior interfering with group adjustment: Low 0-7; Elevated 8-20.
Depression (0-20) measures low mood, apathy, and reduced interest: Low 0-3; Moderate 4-8; High 9-20.
Anxiety (0-20) measures worry, fears, and insecurity: Low 0-4; Moderate 5-11; High 12-20.
Social Withdrawal (0-20) measures difficulty initiating and maintaining interaction: Low 0-3; Moderate 4-11; High 12-20.
Emotional Distress and Atypical Behavior (0-100) measures emotional distress and atypical behavior: Low 0-13; Moderate 14-44; High 45-100.

Methodology and Evidence Base

Each item asks an observing adult how often a behavior occurs, using five choices from Almost never to Almost always. Approximate frequency anchors make responses about observed occurrence rather than a yes-or-no judgment. Items cover interaction, mood, routines, attention, activity, and regulation.

Scores are grouped into the dimensions and read through the displayed bands. The questionnaire reports displayed ranges and labels but does not establish universal norms or conversions to external scores. Results are best understood as a current profile of reported behavior, not a complete explanation of the child.

The questionnaire is conceptually consistent with the Emotional Distress and Atypical Behavior Scale described by Kazmin and colleagues (2014), but it should not be treated as identical to that research version. The TABS manual, Achenbach and Rescorla (2000), and Rescorla (2005) provide related developmental and multi-informant frameworks but do not establish norms for this form.

Interpretation depends on the observer's perspective and circumstances: an emotional distress scale for preschool children reflects reported behavior rather than direct clinical observation. A high band signals attention, not a diagnosis, and merits assessment when concerns persist.

Author: Thomas M. Achenbach

Literature:

Kazmin, A.M., Konovko, N.A., Salnikova, O.G., Tupitsina, E.K., & Fedina, E.V. (2014). The Scale of Emotional Distress and Atypical Behavior of Preschool Children. Clinical Psychology and Special Education, 3(3), Article 6.
Neisworth, J.T., Bagnato, S.J., Salvia, J., & Hunt, F.M. (1999). TABS Manual for the Temperament and Atypical Behavior Scale: Early Childhood Indicators of Developmental Dysfunction. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.
Achenbach, T.M., & Rescorla, L.A. (2000). Manual for the ASEBA Preschool Forms & Profiles: An Integrated System of Multi-informant Assessment. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Research Center for Children, Youth, & Families.
Rescorla, L.A. (2005). Assessment of young children using the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA). Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, 11(3), 226-237. 10.1002/mrdd.20071

Updated: 2025-10-02