Self-Transcendence Scale (STS)

Abstract

The Self-Transcendence Scale (STS) is a widely recognized psychological test developed to quantify the degree to which an individual experiences self-transcendence. This core concept, explored by various philosophers and psychologists, is defined as the ability to move beyond self-focused concerns and establish a meaningful connection with something greater than the self, such as others, nature, or a higher spiritual power. Developed by Pamela Reed in 1986, the STS is a 15-item self-report instrument used extensively in research to link self-transcendence to positive outcomes like well-being and life satisfaction.

Keywords

Self-Transcendence Scale, STS, Self-transcendence, Pamela Reed, Spirituality, Well-being, Life satisfaction, Gerontology, Nursing research, Psychological measurement.

Authors

Pamela Reed.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Self-Transcendence Scale (STS) is to provide a quantitative measure of the inherent human capacity for self-transcendence within an individual’s life experience. As its developer, Pamela Reed—a distinguished nursing theorist—intended for the scale to capture how frequently people engage in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that reflect going beyond the boundaries of the self.

The instrument is designed specifically for use in research settings to explore how this psychological trait correlates with various indicators of mental health and quality of life, including levels of well-being, happiness, and overall life satisfaction. The STS helps researchers understand the spiritual and existential dimensions of human development, particularly in older adults or individuals facing challenging life transitions.

Construct

The STS fundamentally measures the construct of Self-Transcendence. This construct is rooted in developmental and existential psychology, describing the expansion of self-boundaries both outwardly (connecting with others, nature, environment) and inwardly (integrating past and future experiences into a meaningful whole). It represents a maturity wherein individuals shift focus from narrow, personal concerns toward broader, universal meanings and connections.

Items within the scale assess experiential components of self-transcendence, such as the acceptance of aging and mortality, the capacity to find meaning in past experiences, and the feeling of connection to something larger than oneself. High scores indicate a strong orientation toward transcendence, suggesting adaptability, wisdom, and a profound sense of peace or serenity.

Validity

The Self-Transcendence Scale has demonstrated robust psychometric properties across numerous studies since its inception. While specific details of various validity types (e.g., convergent, divergent, predictive) are typically detailed in primary research papers, the general consensus confirms that the STS is a valid measure of the self-transcendence concept. For instance, its correlation with measures of spiritual well-being and positive mental health provides evidence of strong convergent validity.

Furthermore, the scale’s ability to differentiate between groups experiencing different life stages or health statuses (such as terminally ill vs. healthy adults, or oldest-old adults) supports its construct validity, confirming that it accurately measures the intended theoretical dimension of psychological growth and maturation.

Reliability

The STS is consistently reported as a reliable measure of self-transcendence. Reliability typically refers to the consistency of the measurement. Studies using the STS frequently report acceptable to high internal consistency, often measured using Cronbach’s alpha, suggesting that all 15 items reliably measure the same underlying construct.

This high degree of internal consistency ensures that the scale provides stable and reproducible results when assessing an individual’s orientation toward transcendence, making it a trustworthy tool for both clinical assessment and large-scale research projects concerning spiritual health and psychological adjustment.

Factor Analysis

While the STS was initially developed as a unidimensional scale measuring a single factor of self-transcendence, subsequent research and factor analyses have sometimes explored multi-dimensional interpretations. Early work by Reed supported a single factor structure. However, some later studies, particularly those involving diverse cultural groups or specific populations, have suggested potential sub-factors, such as Temporal Transcendence (integrating past and future) and Interpersonal Transcendence (connecting with others and environment).

Despite these variations in factor structure across different populations, the scale is most commonly employed and scored as a measure of the overarching, singular construct of self-transcendence, reflecting the original theoretical model proposed by Pamela Reed.

Instrument

Test Type: Psychological Self-Report Scale / Spiritual Assessment Tool

Format: 15-item questionnaire utilizing a 4-point Likert scale (1=Not at all, 2=Very little, 3=Somewhat, 4=Very much).

Language Available: English (Original), translated versions exist for various languages (e.g., Korean, based on references).

Population Group: General adult population, frequently used in gerontology and medical/nursing research.

Age Group: Adults, particularly older adults and the “oldest-old.”

Population Details: Has been validated across diverse groups, including healthy adults, terminally ill patients, and elders in community and hospital settings.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate the frequency with which they experience specific thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to spiritual growth, connection, and acceptance of life changes.

Keywords

Psychological assessment, Spiritual health, Nursing theory, Likert scale, Measurement, Validity, Reliability, Happiness, Existential growth.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A

Correspondence Address: N/A

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was originally developed and published in 1986. Specific current permission requirements and associated fees must be verified directly with the author, Pamela Reed, or the journal publisher (Nursing Research).

The scale is often reproduced in academic theses and research papers for non-commercial use, provided proper citation is given. The original PDF containing the scale items can be found in the doctoral thesis, “INTERDEPENDENCE OF SPIRITUALITY AND WELL-BEING AMONG KOREAN ELDERS AND FAMILY CAREGIVERS,” available here: https://www.nursing.arizona.edu/Library/081_Kim_Suk-Sun.pdf.

Reference’s

• Reed, P. G. (1986). Development of a scale of self-transcendence. Nursing Research, 35, 305-310.
• Reed, P. G. (1986). – Religiousness among terminally ill and healthy adults. Research in Nursing and Health, 9(1), 35-41.
• Reed, P. G. (1987). Spirituality and well-being in terminally hospitalized adults. Research in Nursing & Health. 10(5), 335-344.
• Reed, P. G. (1991). Self-Transcendence and mental health in oldest-old adults. Nursing Research, 40(1):5-11.
• Ellison, C. G., & Smith, R. J. (1991). Toward an integrative definition of spirituality. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 19, 33-44.
• Wong, P. T. P., & Fry, P. S. (1998). The human quest for meaning: A lifespan approach. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
• Suk-Sun Kim. (2008). INTERDEPENDENCE OF SPIRITUALITY AND WELL-BEING AMONG KOREAN ELDERS AND FAMILY CAREGIVERS. THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA. Phd Thesis.

Items of the Self-Transcendence Scale (STS)

The following are the 15 items of the Self-Transcendence Scale, rated on a 4-point frequency scale (1=Not at all, 2=Very little, 3=Somewhat, 4=Very much):

1. ha‎ving hobbies or interests I can enjoy
2. Accepting myself as I grow older.
3. Being involved with other people or my community when possible
4. Adjusting well to my present life situation.
5. Adjusting to the changes in my physical ability.
6. Sharing my wisdom or experience with others.
7. Finding meaning in my past experiences.
8. Helping younger people or others in some way.
9. ha‎ving an interest in continuing to learn about things.
10. Putting aside some things that I once thought were so important.
11. Accepting death as a part of life.
12. Finding meaning in my spiritual beliefs.
13. Letting others help me when I may need it.
14. Enjoying my pace of life.
15. Dwelling on my past unmet dreams or goals.

Note: Item 15 is typically reverse-scored as it represents a lack of self-transcendence.