Positive and Negative Affect Schedule PANAS

Abstract

The Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) is a widely utilized, brief self-report measure designed to assess the general dimensions of human mood and emotion. Developed by David Watson, Lee Anna Clark, and Auke Tellegen, the scale is based on the premise that affectivity is structured around two distinct, orthogonal dimensions: Positive Affect (PA) and Negative Affect (NA). The original 20-item scale provides efficient scores for these two dimensions, while the expanded 60-item version, the PANAS-X, allows for the measurement of 11 specific discrete emotional states nested within the general PA and NA factors. The instrument is crucial for research in personality, clinical psychology, and health, allowing researchers to measure both state and trait affect.

Keywords

Affect, Positive Affect, Negative Affect, Mood, Temperament, Psychological Assessment, Affectivity, Watson Clark Tellegen.

Authors

David Watson, Lee Anna Clark, Auke Tellegen

Purpose

The primary purpose of the PANAS is to provide a psychometrically sound, efficient, and brief instrument for measuring the two primary dimensions of affectivity. Unlike measures that conceptualize positive and negative mood as bipolar opposites, the PANAS model treats Positive Affect (PA) and Negative Affect (NA) as independent constructs. This independence allows researchers to capture the complexity of emotional experience, where a person can simultaneously experience high levels of both dimensions, or low levels of both.

The scale is essential for distinguishing between dispositional traits (trait affect) and momentary emotional experiences (state affect) by varying the instructions regarding the time frame (e.g., “right now,” “past few days,” or “generally”). The expanded PANAS-X further serves the purpose of assessing specific emotions, such as Fear, Hostility, and Joviality, offering a hierarchical view of affective structure.

Construct

The PANAS measures the psychological construct of Affectivity, defined by two major factors: Positive Affect (PA) and Negative Affect (NA). These factors consistently emerge across various assessment methods and time frames.

• Positive Affect (PA): This dimension reflects the extent to which a person experiences pleasurable engagement with the environment. High PA states include feelings of enthusiasm, alertness, determination, and energy. PA is conceptually linked to the personality domain of Extraversion in the Five-Factor Model (FFM).
• Negative Affect (NA): This dimension represents generalized subjective distress and unpleasant engagement. High NA states include feelings such as nervousness, distress, guilt, fear, and irritability. NA is strongly associated with the personality domain of Neuroticism in the FFM.

The expanded PANAS-X measures these two general factors alongside 11 specific lower-order affective states (e.g., Fear, Sadness, Joviality), demonstrating a clear hierarchical structure of mood where specific emotions cluster under the broader PA and NA dimensions.

Validity

The PANAS demonstrates strong evidence of construct validity, confirmed through numerous studies linking the two factors to distinct external criteria. Convergent validity is evidenced by the strong correlation between PA and measures of Extraversion, and between NA and measures of Neuroticism and general psychological distress (e.g., anxiety and depression).

Discriminant validity is supported by the finding that PA and NA are largely orthogonal (uncorrelated) when measured across various time frames, confirming they are not simply opposite ends of a single continuum. Furthermore, the scale has proven effective in clinical settings, where high NA is implicated in both anxiety and depressive disorders, while low PA is specifically associated with anhedonia and certain forms of depression, as documented in the 1988 work by Watson, Clark, and Carey.

Reliability

The reliability of the PANAS and PANAS-X scales is consistently reported as high across diverse samples and time frames. Internal consistency, measured by Cronbach’s alpha, is robust for both the PA and NA general scales (typically above 0.85). The expanded PANAS-X provides high internal consistency for its 11 discrete subscales, indicating that the items within each subscale reliably measure the intended specific emotion.

Reliability estimates for the discrete subscales of the PANAS-X are provided:

• Fear: Alpha 0.84–0.92
• Sadness: Alpha 0.83–0.89
• Guilt: Alpha 0.85–0.91
• Hostility: Alpha 0.82–0.89
• Shyness: Alpha 0.80–0.86
• Fatigue: Alpha 0.84–0.89
• Joviality: Alpha 0.88–0.94
• Self-Assurance: Alpha 0.80–0.84
• Attentiveness: Alpha 0.70–0.79
• Serenity: Alpha 0.73–0.83
• Surprise: Alpha 0.72–0.80

Long-term stability and predictive validity for trait measures of affect have also been demonstrated, suggesting the scales are reliable measures of stable personality dimensions over time.

Factor Analysis

The development of the PANAS was grounded in extensive factor analytic work aimed at identifying the fundamental dimensions structuring mood and emotional experience. Factor analysis of the original 20 items consistently yields a clean, two-factor solution corresponding to Positive Affect and Negative Affect. This orthogonal structure is considered a cornerstone of the scale’s utility.

The PANAS-X (Expanded Form) utilizes a hierarchical model. Factor analysis of the 60 items reveals the initial two dominant factors (PA and NA), but further analysis demonstrates that these factors organize 11 lower-order, specific affective components. These specific emotions (e.g., Fear, Guilt, Joviality) load strongly onto their respective higher-order factor (NA or PA), validating the hierarchical arrangement where specific emotional states contribute to the broader positive and negative dimensions.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report questionnaire, Psychological Assessment Scale

Format: Likert scale. Items are rated on a 5-point intensity scale.

Language Available: English (original), widely translated into numerous languages globally due to its cross-cultural convergence in mood structure.

Population Group: General population, clinical samples, college students (common use).

Age Group: Adolescents and Adults (typically 16+).

Population Details: The scale is frequently employed with healthy, non-clinical populations to assess daily mood fluctuations and with clinical populations to differentiate affective disorders.

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate the extent to which they have experienced each listed emotion based on a specified time frame (e.g., “right now,” “today,” “past week,” or “in general”). The standard response format is:

• 1 = very slightly or not at all
• 2 = a little
• 3 = moderately
• 4 = quite a bit
• 5 = extremely

Keywords

Neuroticism, Extraversion, Mood fluctuations, Psychological Bulletin, Cross-cultural research, Affective states, Positive Affect, Negative Affect.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source content.

Correspondence Address: Correspondence is typically directed to the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at the University of Iowa (for Clark and Watson).

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The PANAS was initially developed and validated by Watson, Clark, and Tellegen in 1988. The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule—Expanded Form (PANAS-X) was published in 1994, with a detailed manual available in 1999. The scale is widely used in non-commercial academic research and is often available without a fee, though formal permission should be sought from the copyright holders (typically the authors or the University of Iowa) for commercial use or modification.

The original PANAS instrument can be found here (PDF): http://www.cnbc.pt/jpmatos/28.Watson.pdf

The PANAS-X Manual (PDF) is available here: http://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=psychology_pubs

Reference’s

• Watson, D. (1988). Intraindividual and interindividual analyses of Positive and Negative Affect: Their relation to health complaints, perceived stress, and daily activities. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 1020-1030.
• Watson, D. (1988). The vicissitudes of mood measurement: Effects of varying descriptors, time frames, and response formats on measures of Positive and Negative Affect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 55, 128-141.
• Watson, D. (1989). Strangers’ ratings of the five robust personality factors: Evidence of a surprising convergence with self-report. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 120-128.
• Watson, D., & Clark, L. A. (1984). Negative affectivity: The disposition to experience aversive emotional states. Psychological Bulletin, 96, 465-490.
• Watson, D., & Clark, L. A. (1989, August). General affective dimensions versus discrete emotional factors: A hierarchical model. In L. A. Clark & D. Watson (Chairs), The emotional bases of personality. Symposium presented at the 97th Annual Convention of the Amer. Psychological Assoc., New Orleans, LA.
• Watson, D., & Clark, L. A. (1991). Self- versus peer ratings of specific emotional traits: Evidence of convergent and discriminant validity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60, 927-940.
• Watson, D., & Clark, L. A. (1992). Affects separable and inseparable: On the hierarchical arrangement of the negative affects. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 62, 489-505.
• Watson, D., & Clark, L. A. (1992). On traits and temperament: General and specific factors of emotional experience and their relation to the five-factor model. Journal of Personality, 60, 441-476.
• Watson, D., & Clark, L. A. (1997). Extraversion & its positive emotional core. In R. Hogan, J. Johnson, & S. Briggs (Eds.), Handbook of personality psychology (pp. 767-793). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
• Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Carey, G. (1988). Positive and negative affectivity and their relation to anxiety and depressive disorders. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 97, 346-353.
• Watson, D., Clark, L. A., McIntyre, C. W., & Hamaker, S. (1992). Affect, personality, and social activity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63, 1011-1025.
• Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1984). Cross-cultural convergence in the structure of mood: A Japanese replication and a comparison with U. S. findings. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47, 127-144.
• Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of Positive and Negative Affect: The PANAS Scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 1063-1070.
• Watson, D., & Tellegen, A. (1985). Toward a consensual structure of mood. Psychological Bulletin, 98, 219-235.
• Watson, D., & Walker, L. M. (1996). The long-term stability and predictive validity of trait measures of affect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70, 567-577.
• Watson, D., Clark, L. A.(1999). The PANAS-X: Manual for the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule – Expanded Form. University of Iowa, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences Publications. http://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=psychology_pubs
• Levine, Rachel Permuth. 2007. Differences in Perceived Stress, Affect, Anxiety, and Coping Ability Among College Students in Physical Education Courses. University of Maryland, College Park. Dissertation.

Items of the Positive and Negative Affect Scale PANAS

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. ____interested

2. ____distressed

3. ____excited

4. ____upset

5. ____strong

6. ____guilty

7. ____scared

8. ____hostile

9. ____enthusiastic

10.____proud

11._____irritable

12._____alert

13.____ashamed

14.____inspired

15.____nervous

16.___determined

17.____attentive

18.____jittery

19.____active

20.____afraid

Positive and Negative Affect Schedule—Expanded Form (PANAS-X) Watson & Clark‚ 1994

1. ____cheerful

2. ____disgusted

3. ____ attentive

4. ____ bashful

5. ____ sluggish

6. ____ daring

7. ____ surprised

8. ____ strong

9. ____ scornful

10. ____ relaxed

11. ____ irritable

12. ____ delighted

13. ____ inspired

14. ____ fearless

15. ____ disgusted with self

16. ____ sad

17. ____ calm

18. ____ afraid

19. ____ tired

20. ____ amazed

21. ____ shaky

22. ____ happy

23. ____ timid

24. ____ alone

25. ____ alert

26. ____ upset

27. ____ angry

28. ____ bold

29. ____ blue

30. ____ shy

31. ____ active

32. ____ guilty

33. ____ joyful

34. ____ nervous

35. ____ lonely

36. ____ sleepy

37. ____ excited

38. ____ hostile

39. ____ proud

40. ____ jittery

41. ____ lively

42. ____ ashamed

43. ____ at ease

44. ____ scared

45. ____ drowsy

46. ____ angry at self

47. ____ enthusiastic

48. ____ downhearted

49. ____ sheepish

50. ____ distressed

51. ____ blameworthy

52. ____ determined

53. ____ frightened

54. ____ astonished

55. ____ interested

56. ____ loathing

57. ____ confident

58. ____ energetic

59. ____ concentrating

60. ____ dissatisfied with self