Japan's workplace stress check program was made mandatory in 2015 under the Industrial Safety and Health Act, with the primary purpose of preventing mental health problems among workers before they develop — a focus on "primary prevention" (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, 2021).

In practice, however, a number of challenges have been identified with how the program currently operates in many workplaces.

Current Challenge 1: Stopping at Identification
In many workplaces, the focus has remained on identifying high-stress individuals and referring them to occupational physician consultations — with limited connection to subsequent self-care or organizational improvement.

Current Challenge 2: Broad Categorization
The broad categorization used in existing questionnaires makes it difficult for respondents to use their results for independent learning and self-improvement.

Current Challenge 3: Variation in Support Quality
The quality of support provided varies depending on the degree of involvement of qualified professionals such as certified psychologists and psychiatric social workers.

Against this background, there is significant value in private organizations developing and operating their own stress check tools.

Advantage 1: More Precise Four-Band Scoring
Replacing the conventional binary classification of "high stress / low stress" with a more refined four-band scoring system allows for a more accurate understanding of individual risk profiles.

Advantage 2: Concrete Guidance and Self-Care Recommendations
By providing specific strategies and self-care guidance based on assessment results, respondents are better positioned to pursue independent learning and practical improvement.

Advantage 3: Continuous Involvement of Qualified Professionals
Ongoing involvement of specialists in psychotherapy and mental health ensures a consistently high quality of support. The ability to design flexible logic tailored to specific industries and workplace cultures is also a significant advantage of independently developed tools.

It is from this perspective that we have developed a scale aligned with the requirements of Japan's stress check program.

This assessment uses 57 items organized across the following three scales.

Work-related stress factors (17 items)
Physical and psychological stress responses (29 items)
Support from those around you (9 items)
* Reference items: Life satisfaction (2 items)

Response Format
The response options and scoring for each question vary by item.
The scoring is based on pages 34–35 of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare implementation manual.


* Selected examples
Questions related to "workload," "workplace atmosphere," etc.
* Yes (4 points), Mostly yes (3 points), Not really (2 points), No (1 point)

Questions related to "feeling energetic," "feeling lively," etc.
* Almost always (4 points), Often (3 points), Sometimes (2 points), Almost never (1 point)

Questions related to "feeling irritable," "feeling tired," etc.
* Almost always (4 points), Often (3 points), Sometimes (2 points), Almost never (1 point)

Based on the total score, this assessment classifies stress levels into four stages and provides corresponding guidance for each.

Low Stress
Criteria: Total score on the physical and psychological stress response scale: 29–49
Description: Your mental health is stable, with no significant impact on daily life.
Advice: To maintain your current positive state, continue your existing lifestyle habits and keep up your self-care practices.

Moderate Stress
Criteria: Total score on the physical and psychological stress response scale: 50–62
Description: You may be experiencing increased fatigue or anxiety. Early self-care is likely to bring improvement.
Advice: Try incorporating adequate rest and moderate exercise into your routine, and find time for activities you enjoy — working to stabilize your daily rhythms.

Elevated Stress
Criteria: Total score on the physical and psychological stress response scale: 63–76, and not meeting the high-stress criteria below
Description: Your stress response has reached a moderate level and warrants attention. There is a possibility that your physical and mental health is under strain.
Advice: Consider talking to someone you trust about what you are going through, and — where possible — explore options such as taking leave or adjusting your workload.

High Stress
Criteria: Meeting either of the following conditions, consistent with the "high-stress" designation defined by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Case 1: Total score on the physical and psychological stress response scale is 77 or above.

Case 2: The combined total score on "work-related stress factors" (17 items) and "support from those around you" (9 items) — scored with higher stress = 4 points and lower stress = 1 point — is 76 or above, AND the total score on the "physical and psychological stress response" scale is 63 or above.

Description: This is a state that requires professional support. We strongly recommend against carrying this alone and encourage you to seek specialist guidance.
Advice: Please consider consulting a psychologist, physician, or other qualified professional. If your organization's stress check program identifies relevant items, applying for a guided interview is also recommended.

This assessment is intended for self-check purposes only and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a physician.
The results are provided as reference information. If you have any concerns, please consult a qualified professional.

Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ) — Internal Scoring Sheet (57-item version)
Items requiring reverse scoring are marked with *

【A. Work-related Stress Factors (17 items)】

1. I have an extremely large amount of work to do.
2. I cannot get through my work within the allotted time.
3. I have to work very hard.
4. I need to concentrate very carefully.
5. My work requires a high level of knowledge and skill.
6. I have to think about work throughout my working hours.
7. My work involves a great deal of physical exertion.
8. * I can work at my own pace.
9. * I can decide the order and method of my own work.
10. * I can reflect my own opinions in my workplace's work policies.
11. I rarely get to use my skills and knowledge in my work.
12. There are differences of opinion within my department.
13. My department and other departments do not get along well.
14. * The atmosphere in my workplace is friendly.
15. The working environment in my workplace (noise, lighting, temperature, ventilation, etc.) is poor.
16. * The content of my work suits me.
17. * My work is meaningful and rewarding.

Maximum score: 17 items × 4 = 68
Minimum score: 17 items × 1 = 17

【B. Physical and Psychological Stress Responses (29 items)】
Vitality (reverse scoring required → *)

1. * I feel a sense of energy and motivation.
2. * I feel full of energy.
3. * I feel lively and engaged.

Stress Responses (scored as-is)
4. I feel angry.
5. I feel inwardly frustrated.
6. I feel irritable.
7. I feel severely fatigued.
8. I feel completely exhausted.
9. I feel lethargic.
10. I feel tense.
11. I feel anxious.
12. I feel restless.
13. I feel depressed.
14. Everything feels like a bother.
15. I have difficulty concentrating.
16. I feel low in mood.
17. I cannot focus on my work.
18. I feel sad.
19. I feel dizzy.
20. My joints and muscles ache.
21. My head feels heavy or I have headaches.
22. My neck and shoulders are stiff.
23. I have lower back pain.
24. My eyes feel tired.
25. I experience palpitations or shortness of breath.
26. I have gastrointestinal discomfort.
27. I have no appetite.
28. I experience constipation or diarrhea.
29. I do not sleep well.

Maximum score: 29 items × 4 = 116
Minimum score: 29 items × 1 = 29

【C. Support from Those Around You (9 items)】
Reverse scoring required → * (higher scores indicate less support)

1. * I can speak freely with my supervisor.
2. * I can speak freely with my workplace colleagues.
3. * I can speak freely with my spouse, family, or friends.
4. * My supervisor is reliable when I am in difficulty.
5. * My workplace colleagues are reliable when I am in difficulty.
6. * My spouse, family, or friends are reliable when I am in difficulty.
7. * My supervisor would listen if I consulted them about a personal problem.
8. * My workplace colleagues would listen if I consulted them about a personal problem.
9. * My spouse, family, or friends would listen if I consulted them about a personal problem.

Maximum score: 9 items × 4 = 36
Minimum score: 9 items × 1 = 9

【D. Satisfaction (2 items)】
Reference indicators — no reverse scoring

1. I am satisfied with my work.
2. I am satisfied with my home life.

The five-level classification for each subscale is based on pages 40–41 of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare implementation manual.

1. Stress Factors

Evaluates the degree of stress-related factors present in the workplace. Higher scores indicate a greater number of stress factors.

Psychological Workload — Quantity
Items: 1. Extremely large amount of work, 2. Struggling to complete work within allotted time, 3. Having to work very hard
Score range: 3–12
Criteria:
Low: 3–6
Moderately Low: 7
Average: 8–9
Moderately High: 10–11
High: 12

Psychological Workload — Quality
Items: 4. Need for intense concentration, 5. Work requiring advanced knowledge and skill, 6. Thinking about work throughout working hours
Score range: 3–12
Criteria:
Low: 3–6
Moderately Low: 7
Average: 8–9
Moderately High: 10–11
High: 12

Perceived Physical Workload
Item: 7. Work involving a great deal of physical exertion
Score range: 1–4
Criteria:
Moderately Low: 1
Average: 2
Moderately High: 3
High: 4

Interpersonal Stress in the Workplace
Items: 12. Differences of opinion within department, 13. Poor relations between departments, 14. Friendly workplace atmosphere (reverse scored)
Score range: 3–12
Criteria:
Low: 3–7
Moderately Low: 8
Average: 9
Moderately High: 10–11
High: 12

Physical Work Environment Stress
Item: 15. Poor working environment (noise, lighting, temperature, ventilation, etc.)
Score range: 1–4
Criteria:
Moderately Low: 1
Average: 2
Moderately High: 3
High: 4

Job Control (reverse scored)
Items: 8. Ability to work at own pace, 9. Ability to decide order and method of work, 10. Ability to reflect own opinions in workplace policies
Score range: 3–12
Criteria:
Low: 3–6
Moderately Low: 7–8
Average: 9–10
Moderately High: 11
High: 12

Skill Utilization
Item: 11. Rarely using own skills and knowledge at work
Score range: 1–4
Criteria:
Low: 1
Moderately Low: 2
Average: 3
High: 4

Job Fit (reverse scored)
Item: 16. Work content suits the individual
Score range: 1–4
Criteria:
Low: 1
Moderately Low: 2
Average: 3
High: 4

Sense of Meaning in Work (reverse scored)
Item: 17. Work is meaningful and rewarding
Score range: 1–4
Criteria:
Low: 1
Moderately Low: 2
Average: 3
High: 4


2. Physical and Psychological Stress Responses

Evaluates the impact of stress on physical and mental health. Higher scores indicate stronger stress responses.

Vitality (reverse scored)
Items: 1. Feeling energetic, 2. Feeling full of energy, 3. Feeling lively
Score range: 3–12
Criteria:
Low: 3–6
Moderately Low: 7–8
Average: 9
Moderately High: 10–11
High: 12

Irritability
Items: 4. Feeling angry, 5. Feeling inwardly frustrated, 6. Feeling irritable
Score range: 3–12
Criteria:
Low: 3–6
Moderately Low: 7–8
Average: 9–10
Moderately High: 11
High: 12

Fatigue
Items: 7. Feeling severely fatigued, 8. Feeling completely exhausted, 9. Feeling lethargic
Score range: 3–12
Criteria:
Low: 3–7
Moderately Low: 8
Average: 9–10
Moderately High: 11
High: 12

Anxiety
Items: 10. Feeling tense, 11. Feeling anxious, 12. Feeling restless
Score range: 3–12
Criteria:
Low: 3–7
Moderately Low: 8
Average: 9–10
Moderately High: 11
High: 12

Depression
Items: 13. Feeling depressed, 14. Everything feels like a bother, 15. Difficulty concentrating, 16. Feeling low in mood, 17. Unable to focus on work, 18. Feeling sad
Score range: 6–24
Criteria:
Low: 6–12
Moderately Low: 13–16
Average: 17–20
Moderately High: 21–23
High: 24

Physical Complaints
Items: 19. Dizziness, 20. Body pain, 21. Headache, 22. Stiff neck and shoulders, 23. Lower back pain, 24. Eye fatigue, 25. Palpitations or shortness of breath, 26. Gastrointestinal discomfort, 27. Loss of appetite, 28. Constipation or diarrhea, 29. Difficulty sleeping
Score range: 11–44
Criteria:
Low: 11–20
Moderately Low: 21–25
Average: 26–30
Moderately High: 31–39
High: 40 or above


3. Factors Affecting Stress Responses (Support and Satisfaction)

Evaluates the support available from those around you and your level of satisfaction with work and life — both of which buffer the impact of stress.

Support from Supervisor (reverse scored)
Items: 1. Can speak freely, 4. Reliable in difficult times, 7. Would listen to personal concerns
Score range: 3–12
Criteria:
Low: 3–6
Moderately Low: 7–8
Average: 9
Moderately High: 10–11
High: 12

Support from Colleagues (reverse scored)
Items: 2. Can speak freely, 5. Reliable in difficult times, 8. Would listen to personal concerns
Score range: 3–12
Criteria:
Low: 3–6
Moderately Low: 7–8
Average: 9
Moderately High: 10–11
High: 12

Support from Family and Friends (reverse scored)
Items: 3. Can speak freely, 6. Reliable in difficult times, 9. Would listen to personal concerns
Score range: 3–12
Criteria:
Low: 3–6
Moderately Low: 7–8
Average: 9
Moderately High: 10–11
High: 12

Work and Life Satisfaction (reverse scored)
Items: 1. Satisfied with work, 2. Satisfied with home life
Score range: 2–8
Criteria:
Low: 2–3
Moderately Low: 4
Average: 5
Moderately High: 6–7
High: 8

This assessment was developed in accordance with the standards of Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, but has not been subjected to factor analysis or checks for reliability and validity. It reflects the professional judgment of specialists, but please note that it lacks sufficient statistical grounding and is not intended for use in academic research.