Brief Description
The Parental Stress Scale (PSS) is an 18-item self-report questionnaire designed to measure the level of stress parents experience in relation to their children. It asks parents to reflect on various aspects of their relationship with their child or children, including feelings of anxiety, guilt, satisfaction, and social support (e.g., “Caring for my child(ren) sometimes takes more time and energy than I have to give”). Responses range from "Strongly disagree" to "Strongly agree". The tool can be used by anyone in the parent/guardian role, regardless of whether their children have clinical issues. The PSS can help providers track changes in parental stress levels and monitor progress over time, offering valuable insights into how interventions or life circumstances may impact a parent's stress.
Assessment Administration Type
Self-report
Number of questions
18
Age Range for Administration
Parents of children of any age
Recommended Frequency of Administration
No recommended standard frequency; Blueprint recommends monthly.
Summary of Scoring and Interpretations
Items are scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with items 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, and 18 reverse-scored. To find the total score of the PSS, the responses to all items are summed. Parental stress scores can range from 18 to 90, with higher scores indicating greater levels of stress and lower scores indicating higher levels of satisfaction with parenting.
Blueprint Adjustments
N/A
Clinical Considerations
Estimated time for completion: 5-10 minutes
Parents with more than one child are advised to answer based on their typical relationship with their children.
Studies have shown that the PSS has adequate reliability and validity across diverse populations.
This scale is also available on Blueprint in Spanish.
Citation
Relevant Articles + Further Resources
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