Emotional Distress Assessment (21 items)
NOESIS adaptation of the DASS-21 (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995)
Professional Recommended
~7 min · 21 questions · Free partial report
This test contains sensitive content. Results are private and not shared with employers unless you explicitly consent.
A concise 21-item assessment measuring depression, anxiety, and stress — the short form of the NEDS-42, based on the tripartite model by Lovibond & Lovibond (1995).
A concise check-in on three distinct faces of emotional distress — depression, anxiety, and stress — in about five minutes.
- Rapidly screen for emotional distress across depression, anxiety, and stress domains using a streamlined 21-item format.
No signup required to start. The Partial Report is free at the end. The Complete costs $9.90, if and when you want it.
What this test measures
D
Depression
Tendency to feel sad, dejected, and discouraged. High scorers lack energy and have difficulty initiating activities; low scorers are free from persistent depressive feelings.
A
Anxiety
Tendency to experience worry, nervousness, and fear. Anxious individuals feel tense, jittery, and anticipate danger even when none is present.
S
Stress
Assesses chronic non-specific arousal, nervous tension, agitation, difficulty relaxing, irritability, impatience, and overreaction to situations. Reflects persistent nervous energy distinct from discrete anxiety episodes.
Discover where you stand on each dimension.
Start for free →No prior signup. Free partial result immediately.
From first click to report.
The process is simple: you respond, the system calculates, and the result appears. No prior signup, no form, no waiting.
- 1
Click "Start for free"
No signup required to start. You identify yourself at the end, when you want to save the result. The test opens immediately.
- 2
Answer the questions
Likert 4-point scale (Did not apply to me — Applied very much). Visible progress bar. You can pause and resume from any device after identifying yourself.
- 3
Get the Partial Report
Immediate and free. A text summary of each dimension, with indication of high, medium, or low.
- 4
Decide if you want the Complete
The Partial already delivers value. The Complete adds percentiles, norm comparison, charts, applied recommendations, and a verifiable Certificate.
- 5
Explore in the Integrative Chat
Talk to an AI about your results. Ask how your profile applies to your career, what a high score means, or compare with other tests.
The Partial is yours right away. The Complete, when it makes sense.
| Free and paid, side by side | Partial Report (free, always) | Complete Report ($9.90) |
|---|---|---|
| Interpretive text per dimension, generated from your answers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Raw score for each dimension | ✓ | ✓ |
| One-paragraph overview reading | ✓ | ✓ |
| Everything in the Partial, expanded to 3–5 paragraphs per dimension | — | ✓ |
| Percentile per dimension, compared to reference norms | — | ✓ |
| Inter-dimensional chart with accessible data table | — | ✓ |
| Applied recommendations: career, relationships, self-care | — | ✓ |
| Certificate with public verification and PDF download | — | ✓ |
- ✓Everything in the Partial, expanded to 3–5 paragraphs per dimension
- ✓Percentile per dimension, compared to reference norms
- ✓Applied recommendations: career, relationships, self-care
- ✓Certificate with public verification and PDF download
You only pay after completing the test, if you want to go beyond the Partial.
Payment via PIX (instant) or credit card. Access for 1 year. After that, the report stays visible in read-only mode.
What you receive.
Radar chart with percentiles. Illustrative example.
Executive Summary
"You present a profile marked by high intellectual curiosity and above-average conscientiousness, with moderate extraversion and balanced emotional reactivity. This combination suggests someone who seeks novelty in a disciplined way."
Illustrative example.
Scale analysis
The Complete Report details the practical meaning of each score in 3 to 5 paragraphs, personalized by your combined profile. It is not a generic text by range; the analysis crosses all dimensions to generate specific observations about you.
Applied recommendations
Practical recommendations by area (career, relationships, studies, self-care), based on your combined profile. Certificate with verifiable QR and PDF download.
Why trust this instrument.
Based on the tripartite model of emotional distress (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995), this assessment uses 21 independently developed items — seven per scale — to measure depression (low mood, anhedonia), anxiety (autonomic arousal, fear), and stress (tension, irritability). The items were written by NOESIS to represent these published constructs; this is not the original DASS-21 and it is a self-reflection tool, not a diagnostic instrument.
- Authors:
- Lovibond & Lovibond
- Year:
- 1995
The reliability, norms, and cutoffs shown are those of the original instrument (DASS-21 (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995)).
This NOESIS adaptation has not yet been independently validated.
- Lovibond, S. H., & Lovibond, P. F. (1995). Manual for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales.
The theory behind this test.
Tripartite Model of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress
Model distinguishing depression (low positive affect, hopelessness, anhedonia), anxiety (autonomic arousal, situational anxiety), and stress (nervous tension, irritability, difficulty relaxing) as separable but correlated negative emotional states.
Learn more about this theory →Target Audience
Adults (18+) seeking a quick emotional well-being check
Recommended ages: 18+
Questions the report answers.
How is low mood affecting you?
Higher scores indicate more frequent hopelessness and anhedonia. Lower scores suggest emotional engagement and vitality.
How much anxiety are you experiencing?
Higher scores reflect more physiological arousal and subjective fear. Lower scores indicate calm.
How much stress are you carrying?
Higher scores indicate tension and irritability. Lower scores reflect calm and patience.
Who benefits most.
Quick check-in seekers
People who want a fast, reliable snapshot of their emotional state.
Repeat assessors
Individuals who want to track their emotional distress regularly without a lengthy questionnaire.
Therapy-curious first-timers
People considering professional support who want a structured picture of their symptom load to bring to a first appointment.
Frequently asked questions
What does this assessment measure?
It measures depression, anxiety, and stress — the same three constructs as the full 42-item version, in half the time.
How does this relate to the DASS-21?
This assessment measures the same tripartite constructs. All items are independently developed by NOESIS.
Should I take the 21 or 42 item version?
The 21-item version is ideal for quick screening. The 42-item version provides greater precision and is better for tracking changes over time.
What do high and low scores mean?
Each scale is read separately against severity bands, from normal to very elevated — high depression with low anxiety is a different picture from the reverse. Elevated scores describe symptom load, not a diagnosis: if scores are high or you feel unsafe, treat that as a concrete signal to talk to a mental-health professional.
Combine instruments for a fuller profile.
Each test measures different dimensions. The Integrative Chat crosses the results of all tests you complete, revealing connections no single instrument can show.
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Start for free →Emotional Distress Assessment (21 items)
No signup, no time limit. The Partial is free at the end.
The Complete costs $9.90, if and when you want it.
This test is a self-knowledge tool for informational purposes. It does not constitute a psychological or clinical diagnosis and does not replace evaluation by a qualified professional. The report indicates the AI model used in text generation.
© 2026 NOESIS. All items independently developed. Constructs based on the tripartite model of emotional distress (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995).