Dundee Stress State Questionnaire (DSSQ) , developed by Gerald Matthews and colleagues in 2002, is a validated multidimensional tool designed to measure subjective stress states during task performance. Unlike traditional measures that focus only on general anxiety, the DSSQ captures how a person's motivation, mood, and thoughts change in response to specific challenges. ResearchGate Core Dimensions of the DSSQ
| Higher-order factor | Subscales (example items paraphrased) | |---------------------|----------------------------------------| | Task Engagement | Energetic Arousal (alert–drowsy), Motivation (trying hard vs. giving up), Concentration (focused–distracted) | | Distress | Tense Arousal (tense–calm), Hedonic Tone (cheerful–sad), Anger/Frustration (irritated–placid) | | Worry | Self-Focused Attention (thinking about self-performance), Self-Esteem (confident–inadequate), Cognitive Interference (task-irrelevant thoughts) | dundee stress state questionnaire pdf
Simplicity: Keep questions under 25 words to ensure they are easily understood. Dundee Stress State Questionnaire (DSSQ) , developed by
This questionnaire provides insights into an individual's stress state across several dimensions. However, for precise scoring and interpretation, especially in clinical or research contexts, referring to the original DSSQ manual or consulting with a psychologist is recommended. Contact the authors – The DSSQ was developed by G
Worry: This focuses on "cognitive interference," such as self-doubt, losing self-esteem, or having intrusive thoughts that distract you from the task.
Athletes use the DSSQ to differentiate between "choking" (high Worry, low Engagement) and "flow state" (high Engagement, low Distress). Coaches can use the PDF as a pre-competition check-in.
If you need a blank PDF for research, I recommend emailing Prof. Gerald Matthews (gerald.matthews@ucf.edu) with your institutional affiliation and research proposal. Alternatively, check the University of Dundee’s research portal or search for “DSSQ” on PsycTESTS (paid access).