Healme UMP

This application is adapted from the DASS-21 mental health assessment tool, which measures depression, anxiety, and stress. Two psychologists from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia, Peter F. Lovibond and Sydney H. Lovibond, began research aimed at developing a measurement tool capable of clearly recognizing and differentiating the three most common negative emotional states: depression, anxiety, and stress.
In 1995, they published their landmark work in the journal Behavior Research and Therapy. The study, "The structure of negative emotional states: Comparison of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) with the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories," introduced a comprehensive 42-item scale, later known as the DASS-42.
The DASS-42 quickly received positive feedback for demonstrating a robust and valid three-factor structure and clearly distinguishing the three constructs of depression, anxiety, and stress.
Lovibond and Lovibond later created a shorter version. They evaluated data from the DASS-42 and selected the 21 most relevant and representative items for each construct—seven for depression, seven for anxiety, and seven for stress. This shortened version was later called the DASS-21.
The DASS-21 is not simply a shortened version of the long form. Statistical analysis has shown that this version has nearly the same validity and reliability as the DASS-42. The strong correlation between DASS-21 and DASS-42 subscale scores makes the DASS-21 an equally effective but far more practical tool.