SPANE Scale of Emotion

What is the SPANE Scale of Emotion?

The SPANE Scale of Emotion, also known as the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE) Scale, is a 12-item tool used to assess emotional well-being by capturing a person's positive and negative feelings. Developed by Ed Diener and colleagues, it provides a comprehensive measure of subjective well-being by focusing on the frequency of emotions experienced over time (Diener et al., 2009).

The scale evaluates positive and negative emotions through two subscales: SPANE-P for positive experiences and SPANE-N for negative experiences. These subscales reflect a wide range of feelings, from joy and contentment to sadness and distress, providing a balanced view of emotional health. The SPANE captures these experiences through simple self-report ratings, offering valuable insights into emotional patterns and overall life satisfaction.

The SPANE is widely used in research and practice as a flexible and straightforward measure. It aligns well with other well-being tools, such as the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Flourishing Scale (FS), making it a popular choice for exploring emotional well-being and its impact on quality of life. With its focus on general feelings rather than specific emotions, the SPANE is applicable across diverse populations and contexts.

How to use our SPANE Scale of Emotion template

The SPANE Scale provides a foundation for analyzing positive and negative emotions, calculating an affect balance score, and identifying patterns in emotional well-being. Here's how you can incorporate our fillable template into your practice:

Step 1: Download the template

To begin using the SPANE Scale of Emotion template, click the 'Download' button. If you want to access it through the Carepatron website, click on 'Use template.'

Step 2: Administer the assessment

Proceed to the assessment information section, where you will record the client's information, the assessment time and date, and your name as assessor. Administer the test and ask the client to reflect on their emotional experiences over the past four weeks. For each statement on the scale, they should select a response that indicates how often they have felt that particular emotion. This will provide valuable insight into their emotional state during this period.

Step 3: Record scores and note observations

Once the client completes the assessment, double-check that all sections are filled out correctly. Then, you can proceed to the scoring. We've provided a 'Remarks' section for you to write down other observations and details regarding your client.

Scoring and interpretation

The SPANE Scale provides a comprehensive method for assessing emotional well-being. It offers both an overall affect balance score and individual scales for positive and negative feelings.

Positive feelings scale (SPANE-P)

This scale evaluates positive emotions by adding the scores for six items, each rated from 1 to 5 based on frequency, ranging from "very rarely or never" to "very often or always." The emotions, along with their item number, include:

• (1) Positive
• (3) Good
• (5) Pleasant
• (7) Happy
• (10) Joyful
• (12) Contented

The total score on this scale can range from 6 (indicating minimal experience of positive emotions) to 30 (indicating frequent or intense positive feelings). A higher score on this scale indicates a greater tendency to experience positive emotions and states of well-being.

Negative feelings scale (SPANE-N)

This measures negative emotions using the same rating system, where each item is scored from 1 to 5. The six items assessed are:

• (2) Negative
• (4) Bad
• (6) Unpleasant
• (8) Sad
• (9) Afraid
• (11) Angry

The total score on this scale also ranges from 6 (indicating minimal negative emotions) to 30 (indicating frequent or intense negative emotions). A higher score on the SPANE-N scale suggests a higher experience of distressing or unpleasant emotions.

Affect balance score (SPANE-B)

The affect balance score is calculated by subtracting the negative feelings score (SPANE-N) from the positive feelings score (SPANE-P). This result provides an overall picture of emotional well-being, reflecting the balance between positive and negative scores. The possible range of the SPANE-B score is from -24 to 24:

• A score of 24 represents the highest possible affect balance, meaning the individual reports rarely or never experiencing negative emotions while experiencing all the positive emotions most or all of the time.
• A score close to -24 indicates an overwhelming dominance of negative emotions, with very few or no positive emotions reported.

Review the summed positive score (SPANE-P) and summed negative score (SPANE-N) along with the affect balance score. A positive affect balance score indicates more positive emotions, while a more negative affect schedule score suggests a predominance of negative emotions. This provides a snapshot of the individual's emotional state.

Next steps after using the SPANE Scale of Emotion

After scoring the SPANE Scale of Emotion, practitioners can take several key steps to interpret and apply the results effectively:

Identify areas for improvement

If the negative score is high, practitioners may explore the underlying causes of negative emotions. Identifying specific triggers or patterns can guide interventions aimed at reducing stress, anxiety, or other negative experiences.

Develop action plans

Based on the results, create tailored strategies to enhance well-being. For individuals with low positive scores, focusing on boosting positive emotions through interventions like mindfulness, gratitude exercises, or positive psychology techniques can be effective.

Monitor progress

The SPANE Scale of Emotion can be used to periodically reassess clients to track changes in emotional well-being. Regular assessments help evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and provide insights into long-term emotional health.

Contextual considerations

Consider other factors, such as life circumstances or personality traits, which might influence the results. Use the scale as part of a broader assessment to gain a more holistic understanding of the individual's well-being.

Reference

Diener, E., Wirtz, D., Biswas-Diener, R., Tov, W., Kim-Prieto, C., Choi, D., & Oishi, S. (2009). New measures of well-being. Assessing Well-Being, 39, 247–266. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2354-4_12