Frustration Discomfort Scale - by Harrington

FDS Assessment Tool.

Frustration Discomfort Scale 

by Harrington

The Frustration Discomfort Scale (FDS) is a psychological assessment tool developed by psychologist Richard Harrington in 2005. The scale is designed to measure an individual's level of frustration and discomfort in response to various stimuli or situations.

The FDS consists of a list of 25 items, each describing a different scenario or situation that might elicit frustration or discomfort. For example, one item might describe a long wait in a doctor's office, while another might describe a traffic jam on the way to work.

Respondents rate each item on a scale of 1 to 7, with 1 indicating no frustration or discomfort and 7 indicating extreme frustration or discomfort. The scores for each item are then added together to obtain an overall score for the FDS.

The FDS has been used in a variety of settings, including research studies and clinical settings, to assess an individual's level of frustration and discomfort in response to different stimuli. It can be a useful tool for identifying situations that may be particularly challenging for an individual and for developing strategies to manage frustration and discomfort in these situations.

Here are the 25 items included in the Frustration Discomfort Scale (FDS):

1. Waiting in a long line

2. Waiting in a doctor's office

3. Sitting in a traffic jam

4. Being stuck behind a slow driver

5. Dealing with technical problems with a computer or phone

6. Running out of gas

7. Having to change a flat tire

8. Misplacing or losing something important

9. Not being able to find something you need

10. Dealing with a disagreement with someone else

11. Feeling misunderstood or not listened to

12. Being stuck in a boring or uninteresting conversation

13. Dealing with a difficult customer service representative

14. Being interrupted when you're trying to work or focus

15. Being in a noisy or chaotic environment

16. Being in an uncomfortable or cramped space

17. Feeling hot or cold when you can't control the temperature

18. Dealing with a difficult or unpleasant smell

19. Feeling hungry or thirsty when you can't eat or drink

20. Feeling tired or sleep deprived

21. Feeling sick or unwell

22. Feeling anxious or stressed

23. Feeling overwhelmed or overloaded

24. Feeling bored or unmotivated

25. Feeling frustrated or irritated