Psychological Adjustment Scale – PAS
Measures the psychological adjustment and acculturative distress of international students during cross-cultural transitions.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Psychological Adjustment Scale – PAS was developed by Colleen Ward & Antony Kennedy (1999). It is designed to measure Psychological Adjustment. The scale is intended for use with International students.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 20 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
The scale includes 16 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 20 to 100. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Adjustment (High Distress): 20 – 46
- Moderate Adjustment: 47 – 73
- High Adjustment (Low Distress): 74 – 100
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha ranging from .84 to .91.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.