When administered the Perceived Stress Scale, over which time period should a participant evaluate their feelings?

The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is designed to measure the degree to which situations in one’s life are appraised as stressful. Participants are typically instructed to assess their feelings and experiences over the prior month. This time frame allows for a sufficient retrospective view of stress, enabling individuals to capture fluctuations in stress levels and evaluate how their responses to stress may have changed over a longer period.

Evaluating feelings over the past month ensures that individuals can consider a wide array of experiences that may not be as easily remembered if confined to a shorter period, such as the past week or two weeks. Longer periods, such as six months, may also yield results that are less reflective of current stress levels due to changes in individual circumstances or context affecting their perceptions of stress.

Using the past month provides a balanced method for understanding stress without overwhelming participants with trying to remember specific events that might have occurred too far back in time. It is essential for accurate assessment and meaningful insights into stress-related experiences.