Objectives To examine the metric properties and practical benefits of the DASS-9, a shortened version of the well-known DASS-21, a scale for measuring emotional symptoms. Methods Based on data from previous research with Salvadoran adult population, a 9-item scale was developed to measure emotional symptomatology. Results The DASS-9 shows the expected triadic factorial structure (depression, anxiety, and stress), high levels of internal consistency (α ≥ 0.86) and evidence of criterion-concurrent validity (i.e., correlations with daily disruption or fear of contagion) that emulate the results of the original research, but with a cutoff of almost 60% of the original items. Conclusions The DASS-9 shows adequate psychometric properties and is a more efficient alternative for the study of emotional symptoms in Salvadoran population, and in Latin American population as well. The wide use of the DASS-21 in Latin America during the pandemic and the current high incidence of emotional problems globally, make it advisable to create shorter scales that strengthen interest and research on emotional symptomatology.