Savoring Brief Inventory – Chinese Version

Description

The concept of savoring is proposed in relation to coping. In the 1980s, the concept of “coping” became particularly popular, which refers to the active and proactive approach to dealing with negative events (Lazarus, 1993). Some researchers optimistically believe that as long as individuals master coping skills, they can successfully solve various problems and better regulate their emotions. However, Seligman (2002) found that eliminating negative experiences does not necessarily equate to gaining positive experiences. In other words, removing pain does not guarantee obtaining happiness. As early as 1984, Bryant and Veroff suggested that when faced with negative events, individuals tend to take corresponding cognitive and regulatory methods to adjust their negative experiences; therefore, when faced with positive events, they should also employ certain cognitive and regulatory methods to adjust their positive experiences. In 2007, Bryant and Veroff defined the concept of savoring as the ability to evoke, appreciate, and enhance positive experiences, as well as the processing based on this ability. Savoring emphasizes that we should actively engage with positive experiences rather than passively accept them and seek to prolong and enhance the positive experiences derived from positive events.

With the growing interest in savoring research, various interventions have emerged to enhance positive emotional experiences. Based on the timing of the savoring events, they can be categorized into three types: past-based interventions, present-based interventions, and future-based interventions. Bryant et al. (2005) asked participants to recall positive experiences over seven days, twice a day, and found significant increases in participants’ well-being one week after the intervention and a month later. Keeney (2009) had participants spend 10 minutes over two consecutive days focusing on their contributions to successful events and found that this focus might enhance an individual’s ability to savor positive experiences. Furthermore, Otake et al. (2006) discovered that recording one’s good deeds, such as holding the door open for others, and focusing on one’s positive impact on others can also help improve happiness. Regarding savoring present experiences, researchers found that walking for 20 minutes daily and paying attention to positive aspects in the environment (such as flowers and sunlight) leads to increased feelings of pleasure. Studies found that participants who focused on positive matters reported higher levels of happiness than those who focused on negative matters (Bryant & Veroff, 2007). In future-based interventions, Kurts (2008) asked a group of senior students to write for 10 minutes about their university experiences six weeks before graduation. One group was told, “While you write, remember that you have very little time left at university. In fact, you have about 1200 hours left before graduating.” The other group was told, “While you write, remember that you have plenty of time left to spend at university. In fact, you still have about 1/10 of a year before graduating.” In other words, one group felt graduation was imminent, while the other group felt it was still far away. Two weeks after encouraging this mindset, participants who believed graduation was close reported significantly higher levels of happiness compared to their initial levels, while those who believed graduation was far away did not show any changes in happiness. Quoidbach (2009) proposed mental time travel, which involves imagining positive future events to immerse oneself in them and experience the associated positive emotions, which can help elevate happiness and reduce stress. The savoring belief refers to individuals’ subjective assessment of their savoring abilities. Thus, measuring savoring belief is essentially a subjective evaluation of savoring abilities. The Savoring Belief Scale was developed by Bryant in 2003, dividing into three dimensions that measure individuals’ beliefs in their abilities to savor positive events through “recollecting the past,” “appreciating the present,” and “anticipating the future.” The scale consists of 24 items, with 8 items for each dimension, as well as 12 reverse-scored items, using a seven-point scoring system. Guo Tianman (2014) revised the savoring belief scale, yielding a total of 12 items divided into three dimensions: 期待未来 (Anticipating the Future), 品味当下 (Savoring the Present), and 回忆过去 (Recollecting the Past). This revised scale uses a seven-point scoring system. The internal consistency coefficients of the revised savoring belief scale’s dimensions are 期待未来 (Anticipating the Future) = 0.632, 品味当下 (Savoring the Present) = 0.780, 回忆过去 (Recollecting the Past) = 0.741, with an overall reliability coefficient of 0.796. The reliability of each dimension and total score meets acceptable levels for psychometrics, indicating that the questionnaire is a suitable tool for measuring college students’ savoring levels.

Authors and Contact Email

Guo Tianman, information not available.

Purpose

To measure the ability to savor positive experiences among university students.

Test Year

Information not available.

Administration Method and Scoring

The Savoring Belief Scale consists of 12 items, rated on a seven-point scale from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 7 (Strongly Agree).

Reliability and Validity

The internal consistency coefficients are as follows:
– 期待未来 (Anticipating the Future) = 0.632
– 品味当下 (Savoring the Present) = 0.780
– 回忆过去 (Recollecting the Past) = 0.741
– Total score reliability = 0.796

All results meet acceptable psychometric levels.

Factors and Subscales

1. 期待未来 (Anticipating the Future)
2. 品味当下 (Savoring the Present)
3. 回忆过去 (Recollecting the Past)

Keywords

Savoring, Positive Experience, Well-Being, Happiness, Coping

Items in Chinese

1. 我能从展望未来中获得快乐。
2. 我能感受到展望未来所带来的愉悦感。
3. 在期待未来的事情实现之前，我就可以享受它带给我的愉悦感。
4. 在期待未来的事情发生之前，我很难感受到兴奋。
5. 我知道如何充分享受美好的时刻。
6. 我发现自己很难高兴起来。
7. 我似乎很难捕捉到快乐幸福的时刻。
8. 我不能尽情享受美好的感受。
9. 我不喜欢回忆过去。
10. 我能从回忆过去中获得快乐。
11. 我认为回忆过去是在浪费时间。
12. 最好不要让我去回忆过去的快乐时光。

Items in English

1. I can gain happiness from anticipating the future.
2. I can feel the joy that comes from anticipating the future.
3. Before the anticipated future events occur, I can enjoy the joy they bring.
4. I find it hard to feel excited before the anticipated events happen.
5. I know how to fully enjoy beautiful moments.
6. I find it hard to feel happy.
7. I seem to have difficulty capturing moments of joy and happiness.
8. I cannot fully enjoy beautiful feelings.
9. I do not like to reminisce about the past.
10. I can gain happiness from recalling the past.
11. I think reminiscing about the past is a waste of time.
12. It’s best not to ask me to recall joyful times from the past.

References

郭天满.大学生品味、自尊与主观幸福感的关系研究[D].河南大学,2014.
樊丹红.品味对反刍思维和心理健康的影响及其干预[D].浙江大学,2021.DOI:10.27461/d.cnki.gzjdx.2021.000129.