Positive States of Mind Scale (PSOM)

Abstract

The Positive States of Mind Scale (PSOM) is a psychological scale designed to measure the frequency and ease with which individuals experience seven distinct dimensions of positive subjective states. Developed initially by Horowitz, Adler, and Kegeles in 1988, and further validated by Adler, Horowitz, Garcia, and Moyer in 1998, the PSOM moves beyond simple measures of happiness or life satisfaction to quantify specific, beneficial states that contribute to overall positive psychology and mental health. It provides a detailed profile of an individual’s capacity to engage positively with tasks, relationships, and self-care, offering utility in clinical and research settings, particularly those focused on stress, coping, and affective resilience.

Keywords

Positive States of Mind Scale, PSOM, positive affect, well-being, psychological measurement, positive psychology, coping, psychological scale, affective states.

Authors

Mardi Horowitz, Nancy Adler, Steven Kegeles, Ana Garcia, Ann Moyer.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the PSOM is to provide a structured, quantifiable measure of the extent to which an individual achieves and maintains specific, beneficial emotional and cognitive states that are generally considered protective against psychological distress. It is designed to capture the occurrence of positive experiences across various domains, including self-regulation, social engagement, and physical pleasure, offering a more nuanced view of well-being than traditional symptom-focused measures. The scale is particularly useful in tracking changes in positive functioning during therapeutic interventions or stressful life periods.

Construct

The PSOM measures the construct of Multidimensional Positive Affective States. Unlike scales that measure trait optimism or global happiness, the PSOM focuses on specific, observable, and reportable states of effective functioning and positive feeling. These states are theorized to represent successful psychological integration and coping mechanisms. The construct is broken down into seven distinct, yet correlated, dimensions:

• Focused Attention: The capacity for self-regulated concentration on necessary tasks.
• Productivity: The feeling of efficacy and ability to complete tasks or engage in creative problem-solving.
• Responsible Caretaking: The sense of successfully fulfilling duties toward oneself or others.
• Restful Repose: The ability to achieve genuine relaxation without internal distraction or excessive tension.
• Sharing: The capacity for deep, empathetic connection and communion with others.
• Sensuous Nonsexual Pleasure: The enjoyment of non-erotic bodily sensations and intellectual activities.
• Sensuous Sexual Pleasure: The ability to experience and enjoy erotic and sexual exchange.

Validity

Initial validation studies conducted by Horowitz, Adler, and Kegeles (1988) suggested that the PSOM demonstrates promising criterion and construct validity. The development process ensured that the dimensions captured distinct aspects of positive experience not fully covered by measures of negative affect or general life satisfaction. The preliminary report established the scale’s ability to differentiate between groups experiencing varying levels of psychological distress.

Further validation conducted by Adler et al. (1998) provided additional evidence supporting the scale’s structure and utility. The PSOM has shown expected correlations with other measures of mental health and positive functioning, confirming its relevance as a measure of adaptive coping capacity. Specifically, higher PSOM scores are typically associated with lower levels of distress and better psychological adjustment across various populations.

Reliability

The reliability of the PSOM has been examined in several studies, particularly regarding its internal consistency and stability over time. The instrument’s internal structure, encompassing the seven distinct subscales, typically exhibits adequate internal consistency (e.g., acceptable Cronbach’s alpha coefficients) for a measure of specific affective states. The items within each subscale are designed to coherently represent the specific state they measure.

Test-retest reliability data, while potentially sensitive to the transient nature of some affective states, generally supports the stability of an individual’s capacity to access these positive states over short intervals. Researchers intending to use the PSOM are advised to consult the 1988 and 1998 publications in Psychosomatic Medicine for detailed reliability coefficients and sample characteristics.

Factor Analysis

The structure of the Positive States of Mind Scale is inherently multidimensional, reflecting the seven distinct domains of positive experience. Early factor analysis, as detailed in the preliminary report (1988), was likely used to confirm that the seven postulated dimensions emerged as separable factors. This confirmed that the scale was not measuring a single, global factor of “happiness,” but rather seven distinct facets of positive psychological functioning.

Subsequent factor analytic work, including that detailed in the 1998 validation paper, has supported the robust nature of these seven factors. The distinctness of these factors allows researchers to examine differential impacts of interventions or stressors on specific positive states (e.g., impact on Focused Attention versus impact on Sharing). The structure provides strong evidence for the theoretical model that positive functioning is a complex, multifaceted phenomenon.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report psychological scale.

Format: The scale consists of seven core items, each defining a positive state of mind, typically rated on a 4-point Likert-type scale regarding the ease or frequency of experiencing that state.

Language Available: Primarily English (Original development).

Population Group: Clinical and non-clinical adults.

Age Group: Adults (Adolescent use may require validation).

Population Details: The scale has been validated across various adult populations, including those undergoing psychotherapy or experiencing physical health issues, reflecting its connection to Psychosomatic Medicine research.

Test Methodology: Respondents are asked to rate how easily they are able to experience each described positive state.

Keywords

Positive States of Mind, PSOM, well-being assessment, affective measurement, psychological health, coping mechanisms, self-report, Horowitz, Adler.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Information not provided in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: Information not provided in source material.

Correspondence Address: Information not provided in source material.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The PSOM was initially reported in 1988, with subsequent validation in 1998. Researchers interested in utilizing the scale must seek permission from the original authors or copyright holders (likely the journals or affiliated institutions). Fee information is not specified in the source content, but the instrument is referenced in academic publications, suggesting its availability for research purposes. The instrument can be reviewed through the following ResearchGate link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/19969187.

Reference’s

• Horowitz, M., Adler, N., & Kegeles, S. (1988). A scale for measuring the occurrence of positive states of mind: A preliminary report. Psychosomatic Medicine, 50(5), 477–483.
• Adler, N., Horowitz, M., Garcia, A., & Moyer, A. (1998). Additional Validation of a Scale to Assess Positive States of Mind. Psychosomatic Medicine 60(1), 26-32.
• Adler, Horowitz, Garcia, & Moyer, (1998). Positive States of Mind. In: Simmons C. A., Lehmann P. (eds). Tools for strengths-based assessment and evaluation, New York, NY: Springer, pp. 172-173. (2013). Google Scholar.

Items of the Positive states of mind Scale (PSOM)

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

• A.    Focused Attention: Feeling able to attend to a task you want or need to, without many distractions from within yourself.
• B.    Productivity: Feeling of being able to stay at work until a task is finished, do something new to solve problems, or express yourself creatively.
• C.    Responsible Caretaking: Feeling that you are doing what you should do to take care of yourself or someone else.
• D.   Restful Repose: Feeling relaxed, without distractions or excessive tension.
• E.    Sharing: Being able to commune with others in an empathetic, close way, as in talking, walking, going out, or just being together.
• F.    Sensuous Nonsexual Pleasure: Being able to enjoy bodily senses, enjoyable intellectual activity, doing things you ordinarily like, such as listening to music, enjoying the outdoors, lounging in a hot bath.
• G.   Sensuous Sexual Pleasure: Being able to feel erotic, enjoy sexual exchange, as in any form of kissing, caressing, self-stimulation, or intercourse.

The response format utilizes a 4-point scale:

0= Unable to Have It, 1= A Lot of Trouble having It, 2= Some Trouble having It, 3= Have It Easily