Affect Balance Scale – ABS
Measures positive and negative affect as indicators of psychological well-being.
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 -5 to 5. Interpretation guidelines:
- Negative Affect Balance (Lower Well-being): -5 – -1
- Neutral Affect Balance: 0 – 0
- Positive Affect Balance (Higher Well-being): 1 – 5
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 2 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.