12-item measure of positive and negative emotional experiences. ≈ 2 min to complete. Free with attribution.
SPANE (Scale of Positive and Negative Experience) is a validated clinical instrument used to assess 12-item measure of positive and negative emotional experiences.. It is most often used for 12-item measure of positive and negative emotional experiences.. The instrument contains 12 items. Typical administration time is ≈ 2 min.
Source / attribution: Free to use with citation
12-item measure of positive and negative emotional experiences. SPANE is part of standard practice in this setting because it provides a structured, replicable assessment that can be tracked over time and compared across patients or visits.
Like all screening or assessment instruments, SPANE is a structured aid — not a diagnostic test in isolation. Results should be interpreted alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Where a score crosses an actionable threshold, the next step is typically a more detailed clinical evaluation rather than a definitive diagnosis.
Answer all 12 items below to see your SPANE score and interpretation.
Each item is scored on a 5-point scale (1–5). Your score updates live as you answer.
All scoring runs in your browser. No data is sent anywhere — close the tab and the answers are gone.
Positive score (6 items) 6-30, Negative score (6 items) 6-30, Affect Balance = Positive - Negative (-24 to +24).
Scoring notes: Positive score (6 items) 6-30, Negative score (6 items) 6-30, Affect Balance = Positive - Negative (-24 to +24).
Psychometric figures are drawn from the validation literature and may vary across clinical populations and translations.
If SPANE doesn't fit your context, related instruments in wellbeing include:
| Scale | Measures | Items | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| WHO-5 | 5-item measure of subjective psychological well-being. | 5 | ≈ 1 min |
| FS | 8-item measure of self-perceived success in relationships, self-esteem, purpose, and optimism. | 8 | ≈ 2 min |
| MLQ | 10-item measure assessing presence of meaning and search for meaning in life. | 10 | ≈ 3 min |
| GQ-6 | 6-item measure of individual differences in the disposition to experience gratitude. | 6 | ≈ 2 min |
| SHS | 4-item global measure of subjective happiness using absolute ratings and social comparisons. | 4 | ≈ 1 min |
| AHS | 12-item measure of dispositional hope with agency and pathways subscales. | 12 | ≈ 3 min |
| PWB-18 | 18-item short form assessing six dimensions of psychological well-being: autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. | 18 | ≈ 5 min |
| PGIS | 9-item measure of active, intentional engagement in personal growth and self-change. | 9 | ≈ 2 min |
SPANE (Scale of Positive and Negative Experience) is a validated instrument that assesses positive and negative emotional experiences. It is designed for clinicians, medical students, evidence-synthesis researchers. It takes about 2 min to complete, and the 12 items are summed to produce a total score.
SPANE typically takes about 2 min to administer. The exact duration varies a little depending on whether it is self-administered or completed with a clinician. Its brief format is part of what makes it practical for routine clinical use and for repeat administration when tracking change over time.
SPANE contains 12 items. Item scores are summed to produce the total.
SPANE has reported Cronbach's α of 0.88 in validation samples and test–retest reliability of 0.78. Balanced measure of hedonic well-being. In practical terms, a Cronbach’s α around 0.88 indicates good internal consistency (the items hang together well), and a test–retest reliability of 0.78 means scores are well when the scale is repeated without real clinical change.
SPANE is free to use with attribution — clinical, educational, and research use is permitted provided the original source is credited. If you publish results or reproduce the scale, include the citation to the source paper.
Diener, E., Wirtz, D., Tov, W., Kim-Prieto, C., Choi, D. W., Oishi, S., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2010). New well-being measures. Social Indicators Research, 39(2), 247-264. This is the original publication for the SPANE — the reference to cite when reporting results.
No. SPANE is a structured assessment aid, not a diagnostic test. Its proper role is clinical assessment of positive and negative emotional experiences — it standardizes assessment and flags who needs closer evaluation, but the result must be weighed alongside history, examination, and clinical context. When a score conflicts with your clinical impression, clinical judgment takes precedence; treatment decisions should never rest on a screening score alone.
SPANE is supported by the following peer-reviewed sources: