Stressors Scale Test

In 3 minutes, see which parts of your management work create the most stress and why. Get clear, easy results to spot burnout risk and target training where it matters most.

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Questions: 123 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

27,832 views

2,841 completion

2,394 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

13/15

Vertical Communication Stress (VCS)

Measures psychological tension experienced in communications and relationships with higher-level management.

Low tension

High tension

0 – 10: Low tension | 11 – 15: High tension

A score of 13 falls in the High tension range, suggesting elevated strain in vertical communications and a need to review interaction patterns and expectations with management.

example score

8/15

Information Stress (IS)

Measures stress related to information overload and how effectively work information is organized and managed.

Low overload stress

Moderate overload stress

High overload stress

0 – 6: Low overload stress | 7 – 11: Moderate overload stress | 12 – 15: High overload stress

A score of 8 indicates a moderate level of stress from information volume and work organization, suggesting some pressure points that may benefit from clearer prioritization and structuring of incoming information.

example score

9/15

Workload Stress (WS)

Measures perceived psychological overload stemming from work duties and pace.

Low overload

Moderate overload

High overload

0 – 6: Low overload | 7 – 11: Moderate overload | 12 – 15: High overload

A score of 9 falls in the Moderate overload range, suggesting noticeable work-related strain that may affect comfort and efficiency during busy periods.

example score

10/15

Communication Conflict (CC)

Measures how conflict-prone and stressful your day-to-day business communications feel.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 6: Low | 7 – 11: Moderate | 12 – 15: High

A score of 10 indicates a moderate level of conflict in communication, suggesting occasional tension that may interfere with coordination and efficiency.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Newly promoted managers

41%OF USERS

They take it to pinpoint which day-to-day responsibilities feel most overwhelming and where to build coping and delegation skills.

Middle managers under pressure

34%OF USERS

They use it to identify stress bottlenecks in delivery, reporting, and stakeholder demands and to gauge burnout risk.

HR and team coaches

25%OF USERS

They run it with managers to spot common stress triggers across a team and target training or support where it will help most.

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.

Stress in "Vertical" Communications (Si"C)

Average

9.2

Normal range

6.4 — 12

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.

Information Overload (IO)

Average

3.8

Normal range

1.1 — 6.5

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.

Work Overload Stress (WOS)

Average

5.4

Normal range

2.7 — 8.1

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.

Conflict in Communication (CiC)

Average

7.8

Normal range

5.4 — 10.1

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

- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Always
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Always
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Always

These are 3 of the 12 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

Stressors Scale Test - Symptoms and Signs

business

work stress

stressors

The measure is designed to help identify sources of work-related strain and the aspects of role demands that are experienced as most burdensome. Stressors Scale is a brief self-report questionnaire intended to support structured reflection on perceived stressors in day-to-day responsibilities.

It includes 12 items and typically takes about 3 minutes to complete. Respondents rate the degree to which different situations or demands contribute to their current level of pressure, allowing clinicians or consultants to summarize patterns of elevated strain and potential targets for follow-up discussion.

Stressors Scale is described in relation to transactional stress frameworks (Lazarus & Folkman). Results are generally interpreted as screening-level information to guide further assessment and planning rather than as a stand-alone diagnostic indicator.

Author: Richard S. Lazarus, Susan Folkman

Literature: Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer. 1984.