Brief overview of the DASS-21 Overview

The DASS-21 is the short form of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales. With 21 items it measures the three dimensions of depression, anxiety, and stress at the same time. Each subscale contains 7 items, and completing the questionnaire typically takes less than 10 minutes.

It is designed to assess the severity of mood and anxiety symptoms in both community and clinical samples, providing a compact snapshot of a person’s level of psychological distress across these three core domains.

What is the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21)? What is DASS-21?

The DASS-21 (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21) is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure the severity of symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and stress. Compared with the longer DASS-42, this version is shorter while still preserving the original three-factor structure.

Each item describes an emotional or physical experience in recent weeks, and respondents rate how much that description matches their own experience using a 4-point scale.

• Instrument type: 21-item self-report questionnaire
• Subscales: Depression, Anxiety, Stress (7 items each)
• Typical uses: clinical practice, research, counseling, and screening

What does the DASS-21 measure and who is it for? Domains & Target Group

The DASS-21 assesses three key dimensions:

• Depression: low mood, loss of pleasure, hopelessness, reduced energy, feelings of worthlessness, and loss of motivation.
• Anxiety: nervousness, fear, physical signs of anxiety (such as palpitations, trembling, panic), and heightened sensitivity to threat.
• Stress: tension and irritability, difficulty relaxing, feeling under pressure, being “on edge”, and a tendency to be overly self-critical.

The scale is suitable for older adolescents and adults and can be used in both general populations (e.g., students, employees) and clinical settings.

Applications of the DASS-21 Applications

Because it is brief and covers three domains, the DASS-21 is widely used in many settings:

• Initial screening of depression, anxiety, and stress levels in counseling or therapy clients
• Monitoring changes in symptoms over the course of psychological treatment
• University and workplace research on mental health in students, employees, and different groups
• Examining the psychological impact of stressful events (such as crises, illness, or work problems)

How is the DASS-21 administered? Administration

The DASS-21 consists of 21 items and asks you to evaluate your experiences over the past week (or recent weeks). For each statement you indicate how much it applied to you.

• Number of items: 21 (3 subscales × 7 items)
• Response format: 4-point scale from “Did not apply to me at all” to “Applied to me very much / most of the time”
• Administration: self-report, paper or online format
• Estimated time: about 5–10 minutes

Before you complete the DASS-21 Before You Start

• Try to answer the items in a quiet place without distractions.
• Think about your experiences during the past week (or recent weeks), not just one particular day.
• Answer honestly based on your actual experience; do not choose “ideal” answers.
• There are no right or wrong answers; the goal is a realistic picture of how you are doing.
• Your first impression for each item is usually the most accurate—try not to overthink every response.

Interpreting DASS-21 scores Interpretation

The DASS-21 produces separate scores for each subscale (Depression, Anxiety, Stress). Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity in that domain.

Manuals usually provide cut-off ranges for each subscale such as “normal, mild, moderate, severe, extremely severe”. These levels help to locate someone’s approximate position, but they should not, on their own and without professional input, be the basis for major decisions.

The DASS-21 is not a formal diagnostic tool; it is designed to measure symptom intensity. Diagnosing specific disorders (such as major depressive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder) requires a clinical interview and comprehensive assessment.

• High scores indicate stronger symptoms, not automatically a definite diagnosis.
• The pattern across the three scores (for example, high stress plus anxiety, or predominately high depression) can be informative.
• If your scores are high or you feel worried about your mental health, consulting a psychologist or psychiatrist is recommended.

The three-factor map of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Mood & Stress Map

You can imagine your DASS-21 results as three main pillars, each reflecting one aspect of psychological distress:

Frequently asked questions about the DASS-21 FAQ

Ethical considerations when using the DASS-21 Ethical Considerations

• Your responses should be kept confidential and used only for appropriate professional or research purposes.
• Results must not be used to label, stigmatize, or morally judge you or others.
• Taking the test is voluntary; you may stop at any time if you feel uncomfortable.
• If your scores are high or you feel concerned about your mental health, seeking help from a psychologist or psychiatrist is strongly recommended.
• Any formal (e.g., organizational or educational) use of results should involve transparency, informed consent, and consideration of multiple sources of information.

Further reading on the DASS-21 References

For more information about the DASS-21 and its psychometric properties you can consult:

• The original Depression Anxiety Stress Scales papers by Lovibond & Lovibond.
• Validation and norm studies of the DASS-21 in different populations.
• Databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar for recent research using the DASS.

In research, it is important to choose the appropriate version, follow recommended scoring procedures, and clearly report how the scale was administered and which norms were used.