The Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) is one of the most widely used instruments worldwide for assessing psychological stress in the workplace. It was developed at the National Research Centre for the Working Environment (NFA) in Copenhagen.
Versions and Structure
COPSOQ exists in three versions:
- Short version: Approx. 40 questions, ideal for screening
- Medium version: Approx. 87 questions, standard for risk assessment
- Long version: Over 140 questions, for scientific studies
Dimensions Measured
The questionnaire covers:
- Demands (quantitative, emotional, cognitive)
- Influence and development opportunities
- Social relations and leadership
- Job insecurity
- Work-life conflict
- Health and well-being
Advantages of COPSOQ
- Scientifically validated and internationally recognized
- Free of charge (Open Source)
- Benchmarking with reference data possible
- Available in over 25 languages
COPSOQ Providers and Platforms in Germany
Several options exist for using COPSOQ in Germany:
- Freiburg Research Centre for Occupational Sciences (FFAW) - official German COPSOQ team led by Dr. Hans-Joachim Lincke, providing the scientific standard version. Ideal for research studies.
- Statutory accident insurance (e.g. BGW) - provides PDF versions for member companies. Evaluation must be done internally or via external service providers.
- Commercial survey platforms - some use their own questionnaires. Providers differ in how clearly they state whether and in which version they use COPSOQ, so ask them directly before making a choice.
When does survey software make more sense than the PDF?
The free PDF version of COPSOQ requires manual data collection, statistical analysis and documentation - typically 40–80 hours of effort for 50 employees. Specialised survey software reduces this to a few clicks and produces audit-ready documentation automatically.
Is COPSOQ required for the risk assessment?
No. German law does not prescribe a specific instrument - what matters is coverage of all 6 GDA design areas. SafeMind, for example, uses its own structured questionnaire along the GDA areas with anonymous online surveys in 15+ languages, automated analysis and audit-ready PDF documentation.