Parental Stress Scale (PSS) Test

In 4 minutes, see how parenting affects your stress and satisfaction. Get clear, practical insights to spot burnout risk and guide next-step support.

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Questions: 184 minutes

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08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

12406 views

840 completions

729 likes

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

17/25

Parental Rewards (PR)

Parental Reward measures the degree of pleasure, satisfaction, and positive emotions a parent experiences in the parenting role.

Lower reward

Moderate reward

Higher reward

5 – 13: Lower reward | 14 – 19: Moderate reward | 20 – 25: Higher reward

A score of 17 falls in the Moderate reward range, suggesting a generally positive and satisfying parenting experience with some variability in day-to-day enjoyment.

example score

9/15

Parental Satisfaction (PS)

Measures how satisfied and confident a person feels in their role as a parent.

Low satisfaction

Moderate satisfaction

High satisfaction

3 – 7: Low satisfaction | 8 – 11: Moderate satisfaction | 12 – 15: High satisfaction

A score of 9 falls in the moderate range, suggesting generally positive but not consistently strong satisfaction and confidence in the parenting role.

example score

14/20

Loss of Control (LoC)

This scale measures the extent to which a parent feels they are losing control over their life due to parenting demands and lifestyle changes.

Low loss of control

Moderate loss of control

High loss of control

4 – 9: Low loss of control | 10 – 15: Moderate loss of control | 16 – 20: High loss of control

A score of 14 falls in the moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme sense of reduced personal control related to parenting responsibilities.

example score

17/30

Parental Stressors (PS)

Measures the degree of demands and challenges a person experiences specifically in the parenting role.

Low stressors

Moderate stressors

High stressors

6 – 13: Low stressors | 14 – 22: Moderate stressors | 23 – 30: High stressors

A score of 17 falls in the Moderate stressors range, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme level of parenting-related demands and challenges.

example score

36/90

Parental Stress (PS)

Measures the overall level of stress a parent experiences in relation to carrying out parenting responsibilities.

Low stress

Moderate stress

High stress

18 – 41: Low stress | 42 – 65: Moderate stress | 66 – 90: High stress

A score of 36 falls in the Low stress range, suggesting relatively mild parenting-related strain at this time.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Overwhelmed everyday parents

44%OF USERS

Parents who feel tired, irritable, or stretched thin use it to understand how much parenting itself is contributing to their stress.

New parents adjusting

33%OF USERS

Moms and dads in the first months or years after a child’s birth take it to gauge stress levels while adapting to new routines and responsibilities.

Parents in counseling

23%OF USERS

People already seeking support for family or emotional issues use it to separate parenting strain from parenting satisfaction and clarify what needs attention.

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

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

What You’ll See After You Finish the Test

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale, translated into plain, usable insights. Not just numbers, but what they actually mean for your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

A structured, clinically grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation — without alarmist language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how you compare to others. Your scores are placed in a statistical context, showing percentiles and trends based on anonymized platform data to help you understand what`s typical.

Practical
Recommendations

Actionable guidance tailored to your profile. Receive clear, realistic suggestions you can apply immediately — focused on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Detected
Insights

Key patterns you might not notice on your own. Surfacing subtle connections in your responses that help you better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Psychologist

Clarify, reflect, and explore right away. Talk through your outcomes, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue environment.

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you finish the test, your results will be compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of the benchmarks we use to place your score in context.

Parental Reward (PR)

Average

10.5

Normal range

7.8 — 13.2

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Parental Satisfaction (PS)

Average

6.5

Normal range

4.7 — 8.4

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Loss of Control (LoC)

Average

11.7

Normal range

9 — 14.5

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Parental Stressors (PS)

Average

19.5

Normal range

15.1 — 23.9

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Parental Stress Scale (PSS)

Average

44.4

Normal range

34 — 54.8

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

Any questions left?

What does this questionnaire measure?

It assesses stress linked specifically to the parenting role and separates it from positive feelings of satisfaction. Results help indicate whether strain, satisfaction, or both are prominent.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

Completion time is about 4 minutes. The questionnaire includes 18 statements.

How should responses be rated?

Rate each statement based on how well it describes recent everyday experience in the parenting role. Use the response options as intended and avoid overthinking individual items.

Who is this questionnaire intended for?

It is intended for adults in a parenting or primary caregiving role. It can be used in clinical, counseling, or research settings when parenting-related strain needs to be screened.

How should scores be interpreted?

Higher stress scores indicate greater parenting-related strain, while higher satisfaction scores indicate more positive feelings about the role. Interpretation should consider current circumstances and is not a diagnosis by itself.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Parental Stress Scale (PSS) Test

motherhood parental stress

This brief self-report measure is designed to quantify perceived stress associated with the parenting role. The Parental Stress Scale (PSS) focuses on typical emotional and practical experiences of parenting to support clinical screening and outcome monitoring.

Developed by J. M. Berry and W. H. Jones, it includes 18 items and typically takes about 4 minutes to complete. Responses are used to summarize the respondent’s current level of parenting-related strain, which may be interpreted in conjunction with other clinical information and contextual factors.

In practice, the Parental Stress Scale (PSS) can help identify caregivers who may benefit from further assessment, supportive counseling, or targeted intervention related to parenting demands and adjustment.

Author: J. M. Berry, W. H. Jones

Literature: Abidin, R. R. Parenting Stress Index: Professional manual. Psychological Assessment Resources. 1995.; Deater-Deckard, K. Parenting stress. Yale University Press. 2004.; Berry, J. O., & Jones, W. H. The Parental Stress Scale: Initial psychometric evidence. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. 1995.

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