Short Index of Self-Actualization – ISA
Measures the degree to which an individual is self-actualizing across dimensions of autonomy, self-acceptance, emotional expression, trust, and resilience.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Short Index of Self-Actualization – ISA was developed by Alvin Jones and Rick Crandall (1986). It is designed to measure Self-Actualization. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 15 items organized into 5 factors/subscales: Autonomy or self-direction, Self-acceptance and self-esteem, Acceptance of emotions and freedom of expression of emotions, Trust and responsibility in interpersonal relations, Ability to deal with undesirable aspects of life.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Autonomy or self-direction | 2,5,9,10,11 | 5 |
| Self-acceptance and self-esteem | 6,8,14 | 3 |
| Acceptance of emotions and freedom of expression of emotions | 1,4 | 2 |
| Trust and responsibility in interpersonal relations | 3,13,15 | 3 |
| Ability to deal with undesirable aspects of life | 7,12 | 2 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Strongly Disagree, 2 = Disagree, 3 = Somewhat Disagree, 4 = Somewhat Agree, 5 = Agree, 6 = Strongly Agree.
The scale includes 8 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 15 to 90. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Self-Actualization: 15 – 44
- Moderate Self-Actualization: 45 – 69
- High Self-Actualization: 70 – 90
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.72.
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.