2245MedicalSciencesCenter

1300UniversityAvenue
Madison,WI53706

UniversityofWisconsin
InstituteonAging

6082621818(telephone)
6082636211(fax)

InthisfileyouwillfindadescriptionoftheScalesofPsychologicalWellBeingandalistof
referencesforstudiesthathaveusedthemeasures.Inaddition,wehavealsoincludedaformatted
versionofthefull84iteminstrument(14itemsperscale).
Thereisnochargeforthisinformation.However,ifyoudecidetousethisinformation,please
sendDr.CarolRyffadescriptionofhowyouwillbeusingthisinstrumentandtheresultsafter
administeringthescales.

ScalesofPsychologicalWellBeing
(ShortForms)
PsychometricProperties.Attachedareitemsforsix14itemscalesofpsychologicalwellbeing
constructedtomeasurethedimensionsofautonomy,environmentalmastery,personalgrowth,
positiverelationswithothers,purposeinlife,andselfacceptance.Internalconsistency(alpha)
coefficientsareindicatedoneachscale.Correlationsofeachscalewithitsown20itemparent
scalearealsoprovided.Reliabilityandvalidityassessmentsofthe20itemparentscalesare
detailedinRyff(1989)JournalofPersonalityandsocialPsychology,57,10691081.
Psychometricpropertiesofthe3itemscalesaredetailedinRyff&Keyes(1995)Journalof
PersonalityandSocialPsychology,69,719727.The3itemscalesweredevelopedfornational
telephonesurveys.Theyhavelowinternalconsistencyandarenotrecommendedforhighquality
assessmentofwellbeing.
PresentationFormat/Scoring.Itemsfromtheseparatescalesaremixed(bytakingoneitemfrom
eachscalesuccessivelyintoonecontinuousselfreportinstrument).Participantsrespondusinga
sixpointformat:stronglydisagree(1),moderatelydisagree(2),slightlydisagree(3),slightly
agree(4),moderatelyagree(5),stronglyagree(6).Responsestonegativelyscoresitems()are
reversedinthefinalscoringproceduressothathighscoresindicatehighselfratingsonthe
dimensionassessed.
LengthOptions.The14itemscales,shownontheattachedpagesarewhatwecurrentlyemploy
inourownstudies(seeReferenceList).
The9itemscales,indicatedbybracketsaroundtheitemnumber[#],arecurrentlyinuseinthe
WisconsinLongitudinalStudy.Thespecificitemsforthe9itemscalesincludeAutonomy2,3,4,
5,6,9,10,11,14;EnvironmentalMastery1,2,3,4,5,7,9,13,14;PersonalGrowth1,4,5,6,9,
10,11,13,14;PositiveRelationsWithOthers1,2,3,4,6,8,9,10,12;PurposeInLife2,3,5,6,
7,8,9,10,11;SelfAcceptance1,2,3,5,6,7,10,12,13.
The3itemscales,showninboldanditalics,arecurrentlyinuseinvariouslargescalenational
andinternationalsurveys.Thespecificitemsforthe3itemscalesincludeAutonomy6,9,14;
EnvironmentalMastery1,2,4;PersonalGrowth5,11,13;PositiveRelationsWithOthers2,9,
10;PurposeInLife2,10,11;SelfAcceptance1,5,7

AUTONOMY
Definition: HighScorer:Isselfdeterminingandindependent;abletoresistsocialpressuresto
thinkandactincertainways;regulatesbehaviorfromwithin;evaluatesselfby
personalstandards.
LowScorer:Isconcernedabouttheexpectationsandimportantdecisions;conforms
tosocialpressurestothinkandactevaluationsofothers;reliesonjudgementsof
otherstomakeincertainways.
()

1.

(+) [ 2.]

SometimesIchangethewayIactorthinktobemorelikethosearoundme.
Iamnotafraidtovoicemyopinions,evenwhentheyareinoppositiontothe
opinionsofmostpeople.

(+) [ 3.] Mydecisionsarenotusuallyinfluencedbywhateveryoneelseisdoing.

() [ 4.] Itendtoworryaboutwhatotherpeoplethinkofme.
(+) [ 5.]Beinghappywithmyselfismoreimportanttomethanhavingothersapproveofme.
() [ 6.] Itendtobeinfluencedbypeoplewithstrongopinions.
(+)

7.

PeoplerarelytalkmeintodoingthingsIdon'twanttodo.

()

8.

Itismoreimportanttometo"fitin"withothersthantostandaloneonmyprinciples.

(+) [ 9.] Ihaveconfidenceinmyopinions,eveniftheyarecontrarytothegeneral

consensus.
() [ 10.]

It'sdifficultformetovoicemyownopinionsoncontroversialmatters.

() [ 11.] Ioftenchangemymindaboutdecisionsifmyfriendsorfamilydisagree.
(+)

12.

()

13.

(+) [ 14.]

(+)
()

Iamnotthekindofpersonwhogivesintosocialpressurestothinkoractincertain
ways.
IamconcernedabouthowotherpeopleevaluatethechoicesIhavemadeinmylife.
IjudgemyselfbywhatIthinkisimportant,notbythevaluesofwhatothersthink
isimportant.

indicatespositivelyscoreditems
indicatesnegativelyscoreditems

Internalconsistency(coefficientalpha)=.83
Correlationwith20itemparentscale=.97

ENVIRONMENTALMASTERY
Definition: HighScorer:Hasasenseofmasteryandcompetenceinmanagingtheenvironment;
controlscomplexarrayofexternalactivities;makeseffectiveuseofsurrounding
opportunities;abletochooseorcreatecontextssuitabletopersonalneedsandvalues.
LowScorer:Hasdifficultymanagingeverydayaffairs;feelsunabletochangeor
improvesurroundingcontext;isunawareofsurroundingopportunities;lackssenseof
controloverexternalworld.
(+) [ 1.]

Ingeneral,IfeelIaminchargeofthesituationinwhichIlive.

() [ 2.]

Thedemandsofeverydaylifeoftengetmedown.

() [ 3.]

Idonotfitverywellwiththepeopleandthecommunityaroundme.

(+) [ 4.]

Iamquitegoodatmanagingthemanyresponsibilitiesofmydailylife.

() [ 5.]

Ioftenfeeloverwhelmedbymyresponsibilities.

(+)

IfIwereunhappywithmylivingsituation,Iwouldtakeeffectivestepstochangeit.

6.

(+) [ 7.]

Igenerallydoagoodjoboftakingcareofmypersonalfinancesandaffairs.

() 8.

IfinditstressfulthatIcan'tkeepupwithallofthethingsIhavetodoeachday.

(+) [ 9.]

IamgoodatjugglingmytimesothatIcanfiteverythinginthatneedstogetdone.

(+)

10.

Mydailylifeisbusy,butIderiveasenseofsatisfactionfromkeepingupwith
everything.

()

11.

IgetfrustratedwhentryingtoplanmydailyactivitiesbecauseIneveraccomplishthe
thingsIsetouttodo.

(+)

12.

MyeffortstofindthekindsofactivitiesandrelationshipsthatIneedhavebeenquite
successful.

() [ 13.]

Ihavedifficultyarrangingmylifeinawaythatissatisfyingtome.

(+) [ 14.]

Ihavebeenabletobuildahomeandalifestyleformyselfthatismuchtomyliking.

(+)
()

indicatespositivelyscoreditems
indicatesnegativelyscoreditems

Internalconsistency(coefficientalpha)=.86
Correlationwith20itemparentscale=.98

PERSONALGROWTH
Definition: HighScorer:Hasafeelingofcontinueddevelopment;seesselfasgrowingand
expanding;isopentonewexperiences;hassenseofrealizingone'spotential;sees
improvementinselfandbehaviorovertime;ischanginginwaysthatreflectmore
selfknowledgeandeffectiveness.
LowScorer:Hasasenseofpersonalstagnation;lackssenseofimprovementor
expansionovertime;feelsboredanduninterestedwithlife;feelsunabletodevelop
newattitudesorbehaviors.
() [ 1.]

Iamnotinterestedinactivitiesthatwillexpandmyhorizons.

(+)

2.

Ingeneral,IfeelthatIcontinuetolearnmoreaboutmyselfastimegoesby.

(+)

3.

Iamthekindofpersonwholikestogivenewthingsatry.

() [ 4.]

Idon'twanttotrynewwaysofdoingthingsmylifeisfinethewayitis.

(+) [ 5.]

Ithinkitisimportanttohavenewexperiencesthatchallengehowyouthinkabout
yourselfandtheworld.

() [ 6.]

WhenIthinkaboutit,Ihaven'treallyimprovedmuchasapersonovertheyears.

(+)

7.

Inmyview,peopleofeveryageareabletocontinuegrowinganddeveloping.

(+)

8.

Withtime,Ihavegainedalotofinsightaboutlifethathasmademeastronger,more
capableperson.

(+) [ 9.]

IhavethesensethatIhavedevelopedalotasapersonovertime.

() [ 10.]

Idonotenjoybeinginnewsituationsthatrequiremetochangemyoldfamiliarways
ofdoingthings.

(+) [ 11.]

Forme,lifehasbeenacontinuousprocessoflearning,changing,andgrowth.

(+)

Ienjoyseeinghowmyviewshavechangedandmaturedovertheyears.

12.

() [ 13.]

Igaveuptryingtomakebigimprovementsorchangesinmylifealongtimeago.

() [ 14.]

Thereistruthtothesayingyoucan'tteachanolddognewtricks.

(+)
()

indicatespositivelyscoreditems
indicatesnegativelyscoreditems

Internalconsistency(coefficientalpha)=.85
Correlationwith20itemparentscale=.97

POSITIVERELATIONSWITHOTHERS
Definition: HighScorer:Haswarmsatisfying,trustingrelationshipswithothers;isconcerned
aboutthewelfareofothers;capableofstrongempathy,affection,andintimacy;
understandsgiveandtakeofhumanrelationships.
LowScorer:Hasfewclose,trustingrelationshipswithothers;findsitdifficultto
bewarm,open,andconcernedaboutothers;isisolatedandfrustratedin
interpersonalrelationships;notwillingtomakecompromisestosustainimportant
tieswithothers.
(+) [ 1.] Mostpeopleseemeaslovingandaffectionate.
() [ 2.]

Maintainingcloserelationshipshasbeendifficultandfrustratingforme

() [ 3.]

IoftenfeellonelybecauseIhavefewclosefriendswithwhomtosharemy
concerns.

(+) [ 4.]

Ienjoypersonalandmutualconversationswithfamilymembersorfriends.

(+)

Itisimportanttometobeagoodlistenerwhenclosefriendstalktomeabouttheir
problems.

5.

() [ 6.]

Idon'thavemanypeoplewhowanttolistenwhenIneedtotalk.

(+)

IfeellikeIgetalotoutofmyfriendships.

7.

() [ 8.]

ItseemstomethatmostotherpeoplehavemorefriendsthanIdo.

(+) [ 9.]

Peoplewoulddescribemeasagivingperson,willingtosharemytimewithothers.

() [10.]

Ihavenotexperiencedmanywarmandtrustingrelationshipswithothers.

()

IoftenfeellikeI'montheoutsidelookinginwhenitcomestofriendships.

11.

(+) [ 12.]

IknowthatIcantrustmyfriends,andtheyknowtheycantrustme.

()

13.

IfinditdifficulttoreallyopenupwhenItalkwithothers.

(+)

14.

MyfriendsandIsympathizewitheachother'sproblems.

(+)
()

indicatespositivelyscoreditems
indicatesnegativelyscoreditems

Internalconsistency(coefficientalpha)=.88
Correlationwith20itemparentscale=.98

PURPOSEINLIFE
Definition: HighScorer:Hasgoalsinlifeandasenseofdirectedness;feelsthereismeaningto
presentandpastlife;holdsbeliefsthatgivelifepurpose;hasaimsandobjectivesfor
living.
LowScorer:Lacksasenseofmeaninginlife;hasfewgoalsofaims,lackssenseof
direction;doesnotseepurposeofpastlife;hasnooutlookorbeliefsthatgivelife
meaning.
(+)

1.

IfeelgoodwhenIthinkofwhatI'vedoneinthepastandwhatIhopetodointhe
future.

() [

2.] Ilivelifeonedayatatimeanddon'treallythinkaboutthefuture.

() [

3.]

(+)

4.

Itendtofocusonthepresent,becausethefuturenearlyalwaysbringsmeproblems.
Ihaveasenseofdirectionandpurposeinlife.

()

[ 5.] Mydailyactivitiesoftenseemtrivialandunimportanttome.

()

[ 6.] Idon'thaveagoodsenseofwhatitisI'mtryingtoaccomplishinlife.

()

[ 7.] Iusedtosetgoalsformyself,butthatnowseemslikeawasteoftime.

(+)

[ 8.] Ienjoymakingplansforthefutureandworkingtomakethemareality.

(+)

[ 9.] IamanactivepersonincarryingouttheplansIsetformyself.

(+)

[ 10.]

()

[ 11.] IsometimesfeelasifI'vedoneallthereistodoinlife.

Somepeoplewanderaimlesslythroughlife,butIamnotoneofthem.

(+)

12. Myaimsinlifehavebeenmoreasourceofsatisfactionthanfrustrationtome.

(+)

13. IfinditsatisfyingtothinkaboutwhatIhaveaccomplishedinlife.

()

14. Inthefinalanalysis,I'mnotsosurethatmylifeaddsuptomuch.

(+)
()

indicatespositivelyscoreditems
indicatesnegativelyscoreditems

Internalconsistency(coefficientalpha)=.88
Correlationwith20itemparentscale=.98

SELFACCEPTANCE
Definition:

HighScorer:Possessesapositiveattitudetowardtheself;acknowledgesand
acceptsmultipleaspectsofselfincludinggoodandbadqualities;feelspositive
aboutpastlife.
LowScorer:Feelsdissatisfiedwithself;isdisappointedwithwhathasoccurredin
pastlife;istroubledaboutcertainpersonalqualities;wishestobedifferentthan
whatoneis.

(+) [ 1.]

WhenIlookatthestoryofmylife,Iampleasedwithhowthingshaveturnedout.

(+) [ 2.]

Ingeneral,Ifeelconfidentandpositiveaboutmyself.

() [ 3.]

IfeellikemanyofthepeopleIknowhavegottenmoreoutoflifethanIhave.

()

Giventheopportunity,therearemanythingsaboutmyselfthatIwouldchange.

4.

(+) [ 5.]

Ilikemostaspectsofmypersonality.

(+) [ 6.]

Imadesomemistakesinthepast,butIfeelthatallinalleverythinghasworkedout
forthebest.

() [ 7.]

Inmanyways,Ifeeldisappointedaboutmyachievementsinlife.

(+)

8.

Forthemostpart,IamproudofwhoIamandthelifeIlead.

()

9.

Ienvymanypeopleforthelivestheylead.

() [ 10.]

Myattitudeaboutmyselfisprobablynotaspositiveasmostpeoplefeelabout
themselves.

()

ManydaysIwakeupfeelingdiscouragedabouthowIhavelivedmylife.

11.

(+) [ 12.]

Thepasthaditsupsanddowns,butingeneral,Iwouldn'twanttochangeit.

(+) [ 13.]

WhenIcomparemyselftofriendsandacquaintances,itmakesmefeelgoodabout
whoIam.

()

Everyonehastheirweaknesses,butIseemtohavemorethanmyshare.

(+)
()

14.

indicatespositivelyscoreditems
indicatesnegativelyscoreditems

Internalconsistency(coefficientalpha)=.91
Correlationwith20itemparentscale=.99

ReferenceList
(StudiesbyRyffandcolleaguesthathaveemployedtheWellBeingScales)
Clarke,P.J.,Marshall,V.W.,Ryff,C.D.,&Rosenthal,C.J.(2000).WellbeinginCanadian
seniors:FindingsfromtheCanadianstudyofhealthandaging.CanadianJournalon
Aging,19,139159.
Heidrich,S.M.,&Ryff,C.D.(1993).Physicalandmentalhealthinlaterlife:Theselfsystemas
mediator.PsychologyandAging,8,327338.
Heidrich,S.M.,&Ryff,C.D.(1993).Theroleofsocialcomparisonsprocessesinthe
psychologicaladaptationofelderlyadults.JournalofGerontology,48,127136.
Heidrich,S.M.,&Ryff,C.D.(1995).Health,socialcomparisons,andpsychologicalwellbeing:
Theircrosstimerelationships.JournalofAdultDevelopment,2,173186.
Heidrich,S.M.,&Ryff,C.D.(1996).Theselfinthelateryearsoflife:Changingperspective
onpsychologicalwellbeing.InL.Sperry&H.Prosen(Eds.),Aginginthetwentyfirst
century:Adevelopmentalperspective(pp.73102).NewYork:GarlandPublishing,Inc.
Keyes,C.L.M.,&Ryff,C.D.(1998).Generativityinadultlives:Socialstructuralcontoursand
qualityoflifeconsequences.InD.P.McAdams&E.deSt.Aubin(Eds.),Generativityand
adultdevelopment:Howandwhywecareforthenextgeneration(pp.227263).
Washington,D.C.:AmericanPsychologicalAssociation.
Kling,K.C.,Ryff,C.D.,&Essex,M.J.(1997).Adaptivechangesintheselfconceptduringa
lifetransition.PersonalityandSocialPsychologyBulletin,23,989998.
Kling,K.C.,Seltzer,M.M.,&Ryff,C.D.(1997).Distinctivelatelifechallenges:Implications
forcopingandwellbeing.PsychologyandAging,12,288295.
Marmot,M.,Ryff,C.D.,Bumpass,L.L.,Shipley,M.,&Marks,N.F.(1997).Socialinequalities
inhealth:Convergingevidenceandnextquestions.SocialScienceandMedicine,44,901
910.
Ryff,C.D.(1991).Possibleselvesinadulthoodandoldage:Ataleofshiftinghorizons.
PsychologyandAging,6,286295.
Ryff,C.D.(1989).BeyondPoncedeLeonandlifesatisfaction:Newdirectionsinquestof
successfulaging.InternationalJournalofBehavioralDevelopment,12,3555.
Ryff,C.D.(1989).Happinessiseverything,orisit?Explorationsonthemeaningof
psychologicalwellbeing.JournalofPersonalityandSocialPsychology,57,10691081.
Ryff,C.D.(1995).Psychologicalwellbeinginadultlife.CurrentDirectionsinPsychological
Science,4,99104.
Ryff,C.D.(1996).Psychologicalwellbeing.InJ.E.Birren(Ed.),Encyclopediaofgerontology:

age,aging,andtheaged(pp.365369).SanDiego,CA:AcademicPress.
Ryff,C.D.(1997).Lifecourseprofilesofpositivementalhealthinwomen.InE.Blechman&
K.Brownell(Eds.),Behavioralmedicineforwomen:Acomprehensivehandbook
(pp.183188).NewYork:GuilfordPublications.
Ryff,C.D.,&Essex,M.J.(1992).Theinterpretationoflifeexperienceandwellbeing:The
samplecaseofrelocation.PsychologyandAging,7,507517.
Ryff,C.D.,&Heidrich,S.M.(1996).Experienceandwellbeing:Explorationsondomainsof
lifeandhowtheymatter.InternationalJournalofBehavioralDevelopment,20,193206.
Ryff,C.D.,&Keyes,C.L.M.(1995).Thestructureofpsychologicalwellbeingrevisited.
JournalofPersonalityandSocialPsychology,69,719727.
Ryff,C.D.,&Singer,B.(1996).Psychologicalwellbeing:Meaning,measurement,and
implicationsforpsychotherapyresearch.PsychotherapyandPsychosomatics,65,1423.
Ryff,C.D.,&Singer,B.(1998).Thecontoursofpositivehumanhealth.PsychologicalInquiry,
9,128.
Ryff,C.D.,Lee,Y.H.,Essex,M.J.,&Schmutte,P.S.(1994).Mychildrenandme:Midlife
evaluationsofgrownchildrenandofself.PsychologyandAging,9,195205.
Ryff,C.D.,Schmutte,P.S.,&Lee,Y.H.(1996).Howchildrenturnout:Implicationsfor
parentalselfevaluation.InC.D.Ryff&M.M.Seltzer(Eds.),Theparentalexperiencein
midlife(pp.383422).Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress.
Schmutte,P.S.,&Ryff,C.D.(1994).Success,socialcomparison,andselfassessment:Parents'
midlifeevaluationsofsons,daughters,andself.JournalofAdultDevelopment,1,109
126.
Schmutte,P.S.,&Ryff,D.C.(1997).Personalityandwellbeing:What istheconnection?
JournalofPersonalityandSocialPsychology,73,549559.
Showers,C.,&Ryff,C.D.(1996).Selfdifferentiationandwellbeinginalifetransition.
PersonalityandSocialPsychologyBulletin,22,448460.
Smider,N.A.,Essex,M.J.,&Ryff,C.D.(1996).Adaptationtocommunityrelocation:The
interactiveinfluenceofpsychologicalresourcesandcontextualfactors.Psychologyand
Aging,11,362371.
Tweed,S.,&Ryff,C.D.(1991).Adultchildrenofalcoholics:Profilesofwellnessanddistress.
JournalofStudiesonAlcohol,52,133141.

OtherStudiesUsingtheWellBeingScales
Bouffard,L.,Lapierre,S.(1997).Lamesuredubonheur.Revuequbcoisedepsychologie,
18(2),271310.
Carr,D.(1997).Thefulfillmentofcareerdreamsatmidlife:Doesitmatterforwomensmental
health?JournalofHealthandSocialBehavior.38,331344.
Fava,G.A.(1999).Wellbeingtherapy:Conceptualandtechnicalissues.Psychotherapyand
Psychosomatics,68,171179.
Fava,G.A.,Rafanelli,C.,Grandi,S.,Conti,S.,Belluardo,P.(1998).Preventionofrecurrent
depressionwithcognitivebehavioraltherapy:ArchivesofGeneralPsychiatry,55,816
820.
Fleeson,W,&Baltes,P.B.(1998).Beyondpresentdaypersonalityassessment:Anencouraging
explorationofthemeasurementpropertiesandpredictivepowerofsubjectivelifetime
personality.JournalofResearchinPersonality,32,411430.
Fleeson,W.&Heckhauser,J.(1997).Moreorlessmeinpast,present,andfuture:Perceived
lifetimepersonalityduringadulthood.PsychologyandAging,12(1),125136.
Heidrich,S.M.(1999).Selfdiscrepancyacrossthelifespan.JournalofAdultDevelopment,
6(2),119130.
Li,L.W.,Seltzer,M.M.,Greenberg,J.S.(1999).Changeindepressivesymptomsamong
daughtercaregivers:An18monthlongitudinalstudy.PsychologyandAging,14(2),206
219.
Marks,N.(1998).Doesithurttocare?Caregiving,workfamilyconflict,andmidlifewellbeing.
JournalofMarriageandtheFamily,60,951966.
Marks,N.F.,&Lambert,J.D.(1998).Maritalstatuscontinuityandchangeamongyoungand
midlifeadults:Longitudinaleffectsonpsychologicalwellbeing.JournalofFamily
Issues,19(6),652686.
McGregor,I.,Little,B.R.(1998).Personalprojects,happiness,andmeaning:Ondoingwelland
beingyourself.JournalofPersonalityandSocialPsychology,74(2),494512.
McKinley,N.M.(1999).Womenandobjectifiedbodyconsciousness:MothersandDaughters
bodyexperienceincultural,developmental,andfamilialcontext.Developmental
Psychology,35(3),May,760769.
Rafanelli,C.,Park,S.K.,Ruini,C.,Ottolini,F.,Cazzaro,M.,andFava,G.A.(2000).Rating
wellbeinganddistress.StressMedicine,16,5561.
Staudinger,U.M.,Fleeson,W.,Baltes,P.B.(1999).Predictorsofsubjectivephysicalhealthand
globalwellbeing:SimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweentheUnitedStatesandGermany,
JournalofPersonalityandSocialPsychology,76(2),305319.

fb/ryff/wellbeing/scalesshortformhandout

9600