Scale Overview
The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale – K10 was developed by Ronald C. Kessler (2002). It is designed to measure Psychological Distress. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 10 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = None of the time, 2 = A little of the time, 3 = Some of the time, 4 = Most of the time, 5 = All of the time.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 10 to 50. Interpretation guidelines:
- Likely to be well: 10 – 19
- Mild psychological distress: 20 – 24
- Moderate psychological distress: 25 – 29
- Severe psychological distress: 30 – 50
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.92.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 3 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.