The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) is a psychometric scale developed by David Watson, Lee Anna Clark, and Auke Tellegen in 1988.
It is designed to measure two primary dimensions of mood: Positive Affect (PA) and Negative Affect (NA). These two dimensions are considered to be relatively independent, meaning that high levels of positive affect do not necessarily imply low levels of negative affect, and vice versa.
Components of PANAS
Positive Affect (PA):
Definition: Positive Affect reflects the extent to which a person feels enthusiastic, active, and alert. High PA is characterized by high energy, full concentration, and pleasurable engagement, whereas low PA is associated with sadness and lethargy.
People high in positive affectivity have frequent and intense experiences of pleasant, enjoyable moods. That are generally cheerful, enthusiastic, and confident about their lives.
Examples of PA Terms: Interested, Excited, Strong, Enthusiastic, Proud, Alert, Inspired, Determined, Attentive, Active.
Negative Affect (NA):
Definition: Negative Affect represents a general dimension of distress and unpleasurable engagement. High NA is associated with feelings such as anger, contempt, disgust, guilt, fear, and nervousness, while low NA is a state of calmness and serenity.
People high in negative affectivity have more frequent emotional episodes involving feelings of anger, sadness, distress, guilt, and fear.
Examples of NA Terms: Distressed, Upset, Guilty, Scared, Hostile, Irritable, Ashamed, Nervous, Jittery, Afraid.
Structure of PANAS
The PANAS is designed around 20 items of affect. The scale is comprised of several words that describe different emotions and feelings. (Magyar-Moe, 2009).
Clients are instructed to read each item and then list the number from the scale next to each word.
The intent is to indicate to what extent they feel these emotions at the moment or how they felt over the past week. Terms used in the scale are as follows:
- Interested
- Distressed
- Excited
- Upset
- Strong
- Guilty
- Scared
- Hostile
- Enthusiastic
- Proud
- Irritable
- Alert
- Ashamed
- Inspired
- Nervous
- Determined
- Attentive
- Jittery
- Active
- Afraid
Scores can range from 10 to 50 for both the Positive and Negative Affect, with the lower scores representing lower levels of Positive/Negative Affect and higher scores representing higher levels of Positive/Negative Affect. (Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegan, A., 1988).
What Versions of the Scale Are There?
Additional versions of the PANAS scale have been created over time. (Mulder, P., 2018). A few of these are:
- PANAS-C
- PANAS-SF
- I-PANAS-SF
- PANAS-X
PANAS-C is the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children. Practitioners who work with school-age children utilize it. (Magyar-Moe, 2009).
This test is designed to make it simpler for children to differentiate different emotional expressions and was created as a tool to help gauge children’s moods.
PANAS-SF or short form is a more concise version of the original measurement.
I-PANAS-SF is a short form and an international version. It is designed for use by different nationalities. The assessment also has fewer ambiguities or less room for misinterpretations.
PANAS-X is a much more refined version of the test, developed in 1994 by Watson and Clark. On a positive note, this version of the assessment can be completed in much less time, approximately 10 minutes.
It is split into three main sections:
- The first section contains some basic negative emotions, such as guilt, sadness, and fear.
- The second section contains positive emotions, such as self-assurance, attentiveness, and joviality.
- The third section involves other affective states such as surprise, serenity, and shyness, for example.
Where Can You Find the Questionnaire?
The questionnaire can be found in many places from the American Psychological Association website, toolshero.com to several academic and psychological sources.
PANAS Questionnaire Template
The following template is indicative of the typical PANAS template. (Magyar-Moe, 2009).
One would begin by first selecting a timespan before filling in the scores.
Time Instructions
Different time instructions can be used when facilitating this scale. One would begin by marking the appropriate option that they are applying for the test:
- Moment (you feel this way right now)
- Today (you have felt this way today)
- Past few days (you have felt this way during the past few days)
- Week (you have felt this way during the past week)
- Past few weeks (you have felt this way during the past few weeks)
- Year (you have felt this way during the past year)
- General (you generally feel this way)
Clients are then instructed to read each item and gauge how they are feeling by choosing a number from the Likert scale.
The intent is to indicate to what extent they feel these emotions at the moment or how they felt in the past week.
Scale & Scorecard
Score:
- Very slightly or not at all
- A little
- Moderately
- Quite a bit
- Extremely
| # | Score | Feelings/emotions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interested | |
| 2 | Distressed | |
| 3 | Excited | |
| 4 | Upset | |
| 5 | Strong | |
| 6 | Guilty | |
| 7 | Scared | |
| 8 | Hostile | |
| 9 | Enthusiastic | |
| 10 | Proud | |
| 11 | Irritable | |
| 12 | Alert | |
| 13 | Ashamed | |
| 14 | Inspired | |
| 15 | Nervous | |
| 16 | Determined | |
| 17 | Attentive | |
| 18 | Jittery | |
| 19 | Active | |
| 20 | Afraid |
Format: The PANAS consists of 20 items, with 10 items measuring PA and 10 items measuring NA. Respondents are asked to rate the extent to which they have experienced each emotion or feeling during a specified time frame (e.g., “right now,” “today,” “the past few days,” “the past few weeks,” “the past year,” or “generally”).
Administration and Scoring of PANAS
Administration: The PANAS is easy to administer and can be completed in about 2-5 minutes. It can be used in various settings, including clinical, educational, and research environments.
Scoring: To score the PANAS, the ratings for the 10 PA items are summed to create a PA score, and the ratings for the 10 NA items are summed to create an NA score. Higher scores on the PA scale indicate higher levels of positive affect, while higher scores on the NA scale indicate higher levels of negative affect.
Scoring instructions
To score the Positive Affect, one would add up the scores on lines 1, 3, 5, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17 & 19.
Scores may range anywhere from 10 – 50. Higher scores represent higher levels of positive affect. Mean scores: momentary = 29.7 and weekly = 33.3 (Hudeck, 2016).
To score the Negative Affect, one would add up the scores on items 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18 & 20.
Scores may range anywhere from 10 – 50. Higher scores represent higher levels of negative affect. Mean scores: momentary = 14.8 and weekly = 17.4 (Hudeck, 2016)
Interpretation of Scores of PANAS
Positive Affect Score (PA): A higher PA score suggests that the individual is experiencing a higher level of positive emotions and engagement. Low PA scores may indicate a lack of enthusiasm, energy, or motivation.
Negative Affect Score (NA): A higher NA score indicates that the individual is experiencing more negative emotions and distress. Low NA scores suggest a state of calmness and emotional stability.
Psychometric properties of the PANAS
Reliability of PANAS
Internal Consistency: PANAS has been shown to have excellent internal consistency. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the Positive Affect (PA) scale typically range from 0.86 to 0.90, while for the Negative Affect (NA) scale, they range from 0.84 to 0.87. This indicates that the items within each scale are highly correlated and measure a single construct.
– Test-Retest Reliability: PANAS also demonstrates good test-retest reliability, although this can vary depending on the time interval between assessments. For shorter intervals (e.g., weeks), the test-retest reliability is generally high, with correlations ranging from 0.47 to 0.68 for PA and from 0.39 to 0.71 for NA.
Validity of PANAS
According to Watson & Clark (1999), PANAS-X scales, a more developed and refined version of the test, can be used validly to assess long-term individual differences in affect. Further observations showed that PANAS-X scales are:
- Stable over time.
- Show significant convergent and discriminate validity when correlated with peer-judgments.
- Highly correlated with corresponding measures of aggregated state affect.
- Strongly and systematically related to measures of personality and emotionality.
Construct Validity: The PANAS has strong construct validity, with factor analyses typically revealing two distinct factors corresponding to PA and NA. These factors are largely independent, reflecting the distinctiveness of positive and negative emotional states.
– Convergent Validity: PANAS correlates well with other measures of affect and mood, such as the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). High positive correlations with measures of positive mood and negative correlations with measures of negative mood support its convergent validity.
– Divergent Validity: PANAS also shows good divergent validity. The PA scale has low correlations with measures of negative affect and vice versa, indicating that the scales measure distinct constructs.
Norms of PANAS
– General Population: Normative data for PANAS have been collected across various populations. In the general adult population, mean scores for PA typically range between 29 and 35, and for NA between 15 and 20. These scores can vary depending on factors like age, gender, and cultural background.
– Clinical Samples: In clinical populations, scores on the NA scale are generally higher, while scores on the PA scale may be lower compared to the general population. Norms for specific populations (e.g., students, elderly, clinical groups) have been established in various studies, which can provide more context-specific benchmarks.
Uses of PANAS
Clinical Assessment: PANAS can be used to assess mood disorders, including depression and anxiety. It helps in understanding the emotional states of individuals and tracking changes over time.
Research: The PANAS is frequently used in psychological research to study the relationships between affect and various psychological constructs, such as well-being, personality, and coping strategies.
-Workplace and Educational Settings: PANAS is also used to measure the emotional states of employees or students, helping organizations and institutions to understand the affective climate and its impact on performance and satisfaction.
Common Criticisms
The PANAS has been found to be sensitive to fluctuations in mood. (Magyar-Moe, 2009).
Since the scale is self-reported, that can also make it more challenging to accurately assess a person’s state of mind because measuring something like this tends to be subjective.
A multitude of studies has shown that PANAS has good properties, on a psychometric basis. However, some issues remain.
Watson et al. found that both PA and NA are independent. However, some of the findings about this association are inconsistent.
In one study, Caucasians displayed either zero or negative correlations between Positive Affect and Negative Affect.
On the other hand, a positive correlation between the two was reported for the Japanese version. (Lim, Yu, Kim & Kim, 2010).
As a result of this information, we might surmise that the possible associations between PA and NA may vary depending on cultural diversity.
According to Crawford & Henry (2010), the PANAS is a reliable and valid measure of the constructs it was intended to assess, however, the hypothesis of complete independence between Positive and Negative Affect must be rejected
Strengths and Limitations of PANAS
Strengths: PANAS is a brief, reliable, and valid measure of mood. Its simplicity and ease of use make it suitable for a wide range of applications. The PANAS is a valuable tool for assessing affect, providing insight into how individuals experience and regulate their emotions in various contexts.
Limitations: While PANAS effectively captures general affective states, it may not provide detailed insights into specific emotions or affective experiences. Additionally, cultural differences may influence how emotions are experienced and reported, so cross-cultural norms should be considered when interpreting scores.
- Cross-Cultural Considerations
– The PANAS has been validated in multiple languages and cultural contexts, although some variations in factor structure and norms have been observed across different cultural groups. It is important to consider cultural differences when interpreting PANAS scores.
- Applications
– PANAS is widely used in both clinical and research settings to assess mood, emotion, and overall well-being. It has been applied in studies of psychological distress, well-being, and the impact of various interventions.
PANAS relies on self-reported measures, which are, of course, subjective. As a result, one might either overestimate or underestimate their moods and feelings.
Positive Affect is something that can be developed and cultivated. Some believe that the idea of affectivity is inborn, meaning that you may have a propensity to be in a good mood, or the propensity to be in a bad mood continually.
If that trait applies to you, you can take steps to change your mood by engaging in positive activities like journaling, doing hobbies, expressing gratitude, and even indulging in life’s little pleasures.
References for PANAS
Certainly! Here are some references in APA format for the information provided about the PANAS test:
1. Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales. *Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54*(6), 1063–1070. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.54.6.1063
2. Crawford, J. R., & Henry, J. D. (2004). The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS): Construct validity, measurement properties and normative data in a large non-clinical sample. *British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 43*(3), 245-265. https://doi.org/10.1348/0144665031752934
3. Merz, E. L., Malcarne, V. L., Roesch, S. C., Riley, N., Sadler, G. R., & Morrill, E. F. (2013). Psychometric properties of Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) original and short forms in an African American community sample. *Journal of Affective Disorders, 151*(3), 942-949. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2013.08.011
Watson D, Clark LA. Negative affectivity: the disposition to experience aversive emotional states. Psychol Bull. 1984;96:465–490.
Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegan, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales. Journal of Personality
Terracciano, A., McCrae, R. R., & Costa, P. T., Jr. (2003). Factorial and construct validity of the Italian Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). *European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 19*(2), 131-141. https://doi.org/10.1027//1015-5759.19.2.131