Measures both temporary state anxiety and long-standing trait anxiety. ≈ 10 min to complete. Free with attribution.
STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) is a validated clinical instrument used to assess measures both temporary state anxiety and long-standing trait anxiety.. It is most often used for measures both temporary state anxiety and long-standing trait anxiety.. The instrument contains 20 items. Typical administration time is ≈ 10 min.
Source / attribution: Copyrighted; purchase from Mind Garden
Measures both temporary state anxiety and long-standing trait anxiety. STAI 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, STAI 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 20 items below to see your STAI score and interpretation.
Each item is scored on a 4-point scale (4–1). 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.
Two 20-item subscales (S-Anxiety and T-Anxiety) scored 1-4. Range 20-80 each. Higher scores = greater anxiety.
Scoring notes: Two 20-item subscales (S-Anxiety and T-Anxiety) scored 1-4. Range 20-80 each. Higher scores = greater anxiety.
The cutoffs below are drawn from the published validation literature. Always interpret in clinical context.
| Score range | Band | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 20–37 | Low anxiety | None |
| 38–44 | Moderate anxiety | Monitor |
| 45–80 | High anxiety | Consider treatment |
This is an illustrative walkthrough, not a real patient. Follow the same four steps with your own answers — or use the live calculator at the top of this page.
Read each question and choose the response that best fits. Each response has a number next to it — that number is the item's score. The example below uses illustrative answers.
| # | Item | Example response | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I feel calm | Moderately so | 2 |
| 2 | I feel secure | Moderately so | 2 |
| 3 | I am tense | Somewhat | 2 |
| 4 | I feel strained | Somewhat | 2 |
| 5 | I feel at ease | Moderately so | 2 |
| 6 | I feel upset | Somewhat | 2 |
| 7 | I am presently worrying over possible misfortunes | Somewhat | 2 |
| 8 | I feel satisfied | Moderately so | 2 |
| 9 | I feel frightened | Somewhat | 2 |
| 10 | I feel comfortable | Moderately so | 2 |
| 11 | I feel self-confident | Moderately so | 2 |
| 12 | I feel nervous | Somewhat | 2 |
| 13 | I am jittery | Somewhat | 2 |
| 14 | I feel indecisive | Somewhat | 2 |
| 15 | I am relaxed | Moderately so | 2 |
| 16 | I feel content | Moderately so | 2 |
| 17 | I am worried | Somewhat | 2 |
| 18 | I feel confused | Somewhat | 2 |
| 19 | I feel steady | Somewhat | 3 |
| 20 | I feel pleasant | Moderately so | 2 |
Add up all the item scores you noted in Step 1.
2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + … (items 9–20 sum to 25) = 41
Find the row in the interpretation table whose range contains your total:
Total = 41 falls between 38 and 44 → Moderate anxiety
Moderate anxiety. Monitor
A score is one input alongside history and examination. STAI supports clinical judgment — it does not replace it.
Psychometric figures are drawn from the validation literature and may vary across clinical populations and translations.
If STAI doesn't fit your context, related instruments in anxiety include:
| Scale | Measures | Items | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAD-2 | Ultra-brief anxiety screening based on first two GAD-7 items. | 2 | ≈ 1 min |
| BAI | 21-item self-report inventory measuring severity of anxiety symptoms with focus on somatic symptoms. | 21 | ≈ 5 min |
| HADS-A | 7-item anxiety subscale for hospital and clinical settings. | 7 | ≈ 2 min |
| PSWQ | 16-item measure of worry tendency as a stable personality trait. | 16 | ≈ 5 min |
| PHQ-9 | Severity of depression | 9 | ≈ 3 minutes |
| GAD-7 | Severity of generalized anxiety | 7 | ≈ 2 minutes |
| AUDIT | 10-item WHO screening tool for hazardous alcohol consumption and dependence. | 10 | ≈ 3 min |
| CHA2DS2-VASc | Annual stroke risk in non-valvular atrial fibrillation | 8 | — |
STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) is a validated instrument that assesses measures both temporary state anxiety and long-standing trait anxiety.. Its primary clinical use is measures both temporary state anxiety and long-standing trait anxiety..
STAI typically takes ≈ 10 min to administer. Time can vary slightly depending on whether it is self-administered or clinician-led.
STAI contains 20 items. Items are summed to produce a total score.
Scores of 45–80 fall in the "High anxiety" band. Consider treatment
Scores of 20–37 fall in the "Low anxiety" band. None
STAI has reported Cronbach's α of 0.93 in validation samples and test–retest reliability of 0.9. Distinguishes state vs trait anxiety; validated across cultures.
STAI is free to use with attribution. Copyrighted; purchase from Mind Garden
Spielberger, C. D., Gorsuch, R. L., Lushene, R., Vagg, P. R., & Jacobs, G. A. (1983). Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Consulting Psychologists Press.
No. STAI is a structured assessment aid. A score is one input alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Treatment decisions should never rest on a screening score alone.
STAI is supported by the following peer-reviewed sources: