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State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults
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About Scale Name
Scale Name
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults
Author Details
Charles D. Spielberger, R.L. Gorsuch, and R.E. Lushene
Translation Availability
More than 40 Languages
Background/Description
The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) is a self-report inventory that was developed by Charles D. Spielberger, R.L. Gorsuch, and R.E. Lushene in 1970. It is a widely used measure of anxiety that is available in over 40 languages.
The STAI measures two dimensions of anxiety: state anxiety and trait anxiety.
- State anxiety is a temporary feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease that is in response to a specific situation. For example, you might feel state anxiety before giving a presentation or taking a test.
- Trait anxiety is a more general and long-lasting tendency to feel anxious. People with high trait anxiety are more likely to feel anxious in a variety of situations, even when there is no obvious reason to be anxious.
The STAI is a 40-item inventory that is scored on a 4-point scale. The first 20 items measure state anxiety and the last 20 items measure trait anxiety. The total score for each subscale can range from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating more anxiety.
The STAI is a well-validated measure of anxiety that is used in a variety of settings, including clinical, research, and educational settings. It is a reliable and valid measure of both state and trait anxiety, and it is easy to administer and score.
The STAI was developed in response to the need for a measure of anxiety that could be used to assess both state and trait anxiety. Prior to the development of the STAI, most measures of anxiety only measured trait anxiety. This made it difficult to distinguish between people who were feeling anxious because of a specific situation and people who were generally anxious.
The STAI has been used in a wide variety of research studies on anxiety. It has also been used to diagnose anxiety disorders, to assess the effectiveness of treatment, and to monitor anxiety levels over time.
The STAI is a valuable tool for assessing anxiety. It is a reliable and valid measure that is easy to administer and score. The STAI can be used to diagnose anxiety disorders, to assess the effectiveness of treatment, and to monitor anxiety levels over time.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Introduce the STAI and explain the instructions. Tell the person taking the STAI that the STAI is a self-report inventory that measures anxiety. Explain that the STAI contains 40 items and that they will be asked to rate how they feel right now (state anxiety) and how they generally feel (trait anxiety).
- Read the items aloud. The STAI items are written in a clear and concise way, but it may be helpful to read the items aloud to the person taking the STAI. This will help to ensure that they understand the items and that they are responding accurately.
- Instruct the person to respond honestly. It is important to emphasize to the person taking the STAI that they should respond honestly to the items. This will help to ensure that the results are accurate.
- Provide a quiet setting. The person taking the STAI should be able to complete the STAI in a quiet setting where they will not be interrupted.
- Time the STAI. The STAI should be completed in about 10 minutes. If the person taking the STAI takes longer than 10 minutes, it may be helpful to remind them to keep moving through the items.
- Score the STAI. The STAI can be scored manually or using a computer program. The scoring instructions are included in the STAI manual.
Reliability and Validity
The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) is a well-validated measure of anxiety that has been shown to have good reliability and validity.
Reliability refers to the consistency of the STAI scores. The STAI has been shown to have high internal consistency, meaning that the items on the STAI are measuring the same construct (anxiety). The STAI also has good test-retest reliability, meaning that people who take the STAI twice in a short period of time will get similar scores.
Validity refers to the extent to which the STAI measures what it is supposed to measure. The STAI has been shown to have good convergent validity, meaning that it correlates with other measures of anxiety. The STAI also has good discriminant validity, meaning that it does not correlate with measures of other constructs, such as depression.
In addition to its good reliability and validity, the STAI is also a user-friendly measure that is easy to administer and score. The STAI is available in a variety of formats, including paper-and-pencil, computer-based, and online.
Available Versions
40-Items
Reference
Spielberger, C. D., Gorsuch, R. L., Lushene, R. E., Vagg, P. R., & Jacobs, G. A. (1983). Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Form Y. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the STAI?
The STAI is a self-report inventory that measures two dimensions of anxiety: state anxiety and trait anxiety.
Who developed the STAI?
Charles D. Spielberger, R.L. Gorsuch, and R.E. Lushene developed the STAI in 1970.
How many items does the STAI have?
The STAI has 40 items.
How is the STAI scored?
The STAI is scored on a 4-point scale, with 1 indicating “not at all” and 4 indicating “very much so.”
What is the range of scores for the STAI?
The range of scores for the STAI is 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating more anxiety.
What is the reliability of the STAI?
The STAI has high internal consistency and test-retest reliability.
What is the validity of the STAI?
The STAI has good convergent and discriminant validity.
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