What is the Perceived Stress Scale?
The PSS is the most widely used psychological instrument for measuring the perception of stress. It is a measure of the degree to which situations in one's life are appraised as stressful.
Where is my data going/who will see it?
Your privacy is important to us, and all of the individual-level data you provide in connection with this feature will be processed by Headspace solely for the purpose of providing you with the “My Progress” feature. If you are a member through a “Headspace for Work” or other organizational partnership, we may report aggregate or anonymized “My Progress” data to such organizations, but will never do so in a manner that identifies you as an individual. Please refer to our privacy policy for more information about our data processing activities.
My stress levels are incredibly high. What should I do?
A high PSS score suggests that you are a great fit for the Headspace program. Heightened perceptions of stress may be interfering with your daily routine; practicing mindfulness with Headspace is a simple strategy proven to reduce perceptions of stress.
My stress levels are low. What should I do?
A low PSS score suggests low-stress concerns over the past 30 days. Stress is an inevitable part of life. The frequency and duration of stress, however, as well as the return to a non-stressed state all have significant effects on our overall health and well-being. Regularly practicing mindfulness and meditation can prevent stress from occurring, can lengthen the duration of positive states, and can speed up returns to non-stressed states.
Do I have to do a check-in every month?
We encourage our members to take the time each month to check in with themselves and reflect on how they’re doing. However, members can always choose to skip.
What if I don’t complete the entire check-in once I start it?
Members have the option to leave the assessment by tapping an ‘x’ at the top of their screens. No data will be recorded if they do.
When do check-ins become available each month?
Each new check-in will become available on the 1st day of the month.
I don’t see the feature. What can I do
This feature is currently available for:
- All users (except Health/Science Studies members)
- Headspace for Work: Make sure your Headspace account is linked to the organization (you have gone through the enrollment flow for your org). Starbucks is not currently part of this benefit.
Make sure you’re on the latest version of the mobile app. Minimum versions are: iOS 3.102.0, Android 3.55.0
Note that this feature is only available on our mobile platforms.
Need more help? Email us at help@headspace.com.