Affect Balance Scale – ABS
Measures psychological well-being by assessing the balance between positive and negative affect experienced over the past few weeks.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Affect Balance Scale – ABS was developed by Norman M. Bradburn (1969). It is designed to measure Psychological Well-being. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 10 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Positive Affect, Negative Affect.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Positive Affect | 1,3,5,7,9 | 5 |
| Negative Affect | 2,4,6,8,10 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a dichotomous Yes/No format.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 10. Interpretation guidelines:
- Negative Affect Dominant (Low Well-Being): 0 – 4
- Balanced Affect: 5 – 5
- Positive Affect Dominant (High Well-Being): 6 – 10
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Subscale alpha coefficients typically range from 0.60 to 0.75.
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.