Positive States of Mind Scale – PSOM
Measures the capacity to experience and maintain various positive states of mind.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Positive States of Mind Scale – PSOM was developed by Mardi J. Horowitz, Nancy Adler, Susan Kegeles (1988). It is designed to measure Positive States of Mind. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 7 items organized into 7 factors/subscales: Focused Attention, Productivity, Responsible Caretaking, Restful Repose, Sharing, Sensuous Nonsexual Pleasure, Sensuous Sexual Pleasure.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Focused Attention | 1 | 1 |
| Productivity | 2 | 1 |
| Responsible Caretaking | 3 | 1 |
| Restful Repose | 4 | 1 |
| Sharing | 5 | 1 |
| Sensuous Nonsexual Pleasure | 6 | 1 |
| Sensuous Sexual Pleasure | 7 | 1 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Unable to Have It, 1 = A Lot of Trouble having It, 2 = Some Trouble having It, 3 = Have It Easily.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 21. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low ability to experience positive states of mind: 0 – 7
- Moderate ability to experience positive states of mind: 8 – 14
- High ability to experience positive states of mind: 15 – 21
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified in source text.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 3 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.