What is the DASS-Y used for?

The DASS-Y screens children and adolescents for symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, and it tracks how those symptoms change over time. Clinicians use the 21-item self-report questionnaire at intake and during treatment to guide clinical decision-making, prompt follow-up, and monitor progress. It is a screening tool, not a diagnostic test.

How many items are on the DASS-Y and how is it scored?

The DASS-Y has 21 items, split into three subscales of seven items each for depression, anxiety, and stress. Young people rate every item from 0 (not true) to 3 (very true) for the past week. Each subscale ranges from 0 to 21, and the total ranges from 0 to 63.

What age group is the DASS-Y for?

The DASS-Y was designed for youth roughly aged 7 to 18. Its wording is simplified so that even younger children can understand each statement. For children around 7 to 9 years, an adult may read the items aloud without interpreting them, while the young person still selects their own answers independently.

What do the DASS-Y severity levels mean?

Each subscale is compared against cutoffs derived from a normative sample of more than 2,000 youth, sorting scores into normal, mild, moderate, severe, and extremely severe ranges. Higher scores reflect more frequent or intense symptoms. These bands flag distress that may warrant further assessment; they do not on their own confirm a diagnosis.

Is the DASS-Y free to use?

Yes. Like other versions of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, the DASS-Y is in the public domain and can be used without a licensing fee. This makes it practical for routine screening in schools, primary care, and mental health settings. Always cite the original developers when reporting results.

Does the DASS-Y measure suicide risk?

No. The DASS-Y measures general distress across depression, anxiety, and stress, and it does not include an item about suicidal thoughts or self-harm. If a young person screens high or you have safety concerns, pair the DASS-Y with a dedicated risk assessment and appropriate clinical follow-up.

DASS-Y Youth | Template & auto-scoring

The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, Youth version (DASS-Y) is a 21-item self-report questionnaire that measures symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in children and adolescents. Young people rate how true each statement was during the past week, and clinicians use the results to screen for emotional distress and to track how symptoms change over time.

Why healthcare providers use the DASS-Y

Age-appropriate wording. The DASS-Y uses simplified language validated for readers as young as seven, so answers reflect what young patients actually understand.
Three symptom domains. One short form captures depression, anxiety, and stress separately, giving a broader picture than a single-condition screen.
Progress monitoring. Because it can be repeated, it shows whether distress is rising or easing between visits.
Public domain. The scale can be used without licensing fees, which supports routine screening.
Quick to complete. Most young people finish the 21 items in about four minutes.

Which settings use the DASS-Y?

Child and adolescent mental health. Psychologists and psychiatrists use it at intake and throughout treatment.
Schools and counseling. School-based counselors screen for emotional distress and monitor students of concern.
Pediatric primary care. Clinicians use it to flag depression, anxiety, or stress during routine visits.
Specialist youth programs. Eating disorder and other youth services use it as an outcome measure.

What does the DASS-Y measure?

The DASS-Y measures general psychological distress across three related domains. Each domain is assessed by seven plain-language items, and higher scores reflect more frequent or intense symptoms during the past week.

Depression. Low mood, loss of interest, hopelessness, and low self-worth.
Anxiety. Physical arousal, situational fear, and feelings of panic or worry.
Stress. Tension, irritability, difficulty relaxing, and being easily upset.

Scoring the DASS-Y

Number of items. 21 items, split into three subscales of seven items each.
Per-item scale. Each item is rated from 0 (not true) to 3 (very true), based on the past week.
Total score range. Each subscale ranges from 0 to 21, and the combined total ranges from 0 to 63.
Score direction. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.

Subscales are interpreted separately, because a young person can score high in one domain and low in another. The DASS-Y is a screening and monitoring tool, not a diagnosis; scores guide clinical decision-making and prompt follow-up rather than confirm a condition. The cutoffs were derived from a normative sample of more than 2,000 youth using the same percentile ranges as the adult DASS.

Cutoffs differ by subscale. For depression, normal is 0 to 6, mild 7 to 8, moderate 9 to 13, severe 14 to 16, and extremely severe 17 or above. For anxiety, normal is 0 to 5, mild 6 to 7, moderate 8 to 12, severe 13 to 15, and extremely severe 16 or above. For stress, normal is 0 to 11, mild 12 to 13, moderate 14 to 16, severe 17 to 18, and extremely severe 19 or above.

The bands below apply to the combined total score.

Score	Interpretation	Suggested next step
0 to 23	Normal	Monitor
24 to 29	Mild	Watchful waiting
30 to 39	Moderate	Consider further assessment
40 to 46	Severe	Consider further assessment
47 to 63	Extremely severe	Immediate evaluation

Best practices for administration

Set the recall window. Remind the young person to answer for the past week, not just today.
Support younger readers. For children around 7 to 9, an adult can read items aloud without interpreting them.
Keep it self-report. Let the young person answer independently so responses reflect their own view.
Score subscales separately. Review depression, anxiety, and stress individually before looking at the total.
Re-administer consistently. Use the same time frame and setting when tracking change across visits.
Pair with clinical judgment. Combine scores with history and observation before drawing conclusions.

How Zentake helps with the DASS-Y

Automatic scoring. Subscale and total scores are calculated on submit, with no hand-tallying.
Longitudinal tracking. Re-send the DASS-Y on a schedule and view change over time.
Before the visit. Patients complete it from home on any device, so pediatric practices start the appointment already informed.
HIPAA compliant. Data is encrypted, with a signed BAA on every plan.

References

Primary validation: Szabo, M., & Lovibond, P. F. (2022). Development and psychometric properties of the DASS-Youth (DASS-Y): an extension of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales to adolescents and children. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 766890.

Severity cutoffs: Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, DASS-Y cutoffs, University of New South Wales, derived from the normative sample of N = 2,121 reported in Szabo and Lovibond (2022).

Last updated: August 2026

DASS-Y Youth