Negative and Positive Affect Scale (NAPAS-12)

Description

The Negative and Positive Affect Scale (NAPAS-12) is a brief, reliable, and scientifically validated self-report instrument developed to assess two fundamental dimensions of emotional well-being: Positive Affect (PA) and Negative Affect (NA). Originally developed by Mroczek and Kolarz (1998), the questionnaire provides a rapid assessment of individuals’ emotional experiences during the previous 30 days, making it particularly useful for evaluating subjective well-being, emotional functioning, and psychological health.

The original version of the NAPAS consists of 12 items, while a validated 10-item short version (NAPAS-10) was later developed, demonstrating psychometric properties comparable to those of the original instrument. The scale measures the frequency with which individuals experience a range of positive and negative emotions, providing complementary information about psychological well-being rather than viewing positive and negative affect as opposite ends of the same continuum.

Because of its brevity and excellent psychometric performance, the NAPAS is widely used in clinical psychology, health psychology, positive psychology, psychiatry, public health, behavioral medicine, and epidemiological research, as well as in studies examining quality of life, mental health, subjective well-being, emotional resilience, and healthy aging.

Data Analysis and Applications

Data collected using the NAPAS-12 are analyzed using contemporary psychometric and statistical techniques to evaluate both positive and negative emotional experiences.

Participants indicate how frequently they experienced each emotion during the previous 30 days using a five-point Likert response scale, ranging from “None of the time” to “All of the time.” The first six items assess Negative Affect, whereas the remaining six items assess Positive Affect.

Psychometric evaluation of the instrument typically includes:

  • Internal consistency, assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient.
  • Test–retest reliability, evaluating score stability over time.
  • Construct validity, examined using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA).
  • Convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity, established through comparisons with measures of subjective well-being, depression, anxiety, life satisfaction, and psychological functioning.

In research and clinical settings, NAPAS-12 scores are commonly analyzed using:

  • Descriptive statistics, including means, standard deviations, frequencies, percentages, and score distributions.
  • Comparative analyses, such as independent-samples t-tests, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Mann–Whitney U tests, and Kruskal–Wallis tests, to compare emotional well-being across demographic or clinical groups.
  • Correlation analyses, using Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients to investigate associations between affect, mental health, quality of life, resilience, and sociodemographic variables.
  • Multivariate statistical techniques, including linear regression, logistic regression, mediation and moderation analyses, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to identify determinants and outcomes of emotional well-being.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Negative and Positive Affect Scale (NAPAS-12) is to provide a reliable and valid assessment of individuals’ emotional experiences by measuring both positive and negative affect over a recent time period.

More specifically, the instrument is designed to:

  • assess emotional well-being and psychological functioning;
  • measure the frequency of positive and negative emotional experiences;
  • investigate relationships between affect, mental health, and physical health;
  • evaluate the effectiveness of psychological, behavioral, and medical interventions;
  • support clinical assessment, epidemiological studies, and research on quality of life and subjective well-being.

The NAPAS enables researchers and clinicians to obtain a comprehensive understanding of emotional functioning and its relationship with broader indicators of health and well-being.

Scoring

The NAPAS-12 consists of 12 items, each rated on a five-point Likert response scale (1–5) according to how often respondents experienced each emotion during the previous 30 days.

Scoring is performed separately for two independent subscales:

  • Negative Affect (NA): Items 1–6
  • Positive Affect (PA): Items 7–12

Subscale scores are calculated by summing the responses to the corresponding items.

  • Higher Positive Affect scores indicate greater emotional well-being, optimism, vitality, life satisfaction, and positive psychological functioning.
  • Higher Negative Affect scores indicate more frequent experiences of emotional distress, including sadness, nervousness, hopelessness, psychological discomfort, and negative mood.

Both the original 12-item version and the 10-item short version have demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity, supporting their use in both research and clinical practice.

References

Joshanloo, M., & Bakhshi, A. The Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance of Positive and Negative Affect Across Gender and Cultural Groups: A Study in Iran and the USA. European Journal of Psychological Assessment.

Mroczek, D. K., & Kolarz, C. M. (1998). The Effect of Age on Positive and Negative Affect: A Developmental Perspective on Happiness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75(5), 1333–1349.

Joshanloo, M. (2017). Factor Structure and Criterion Validity of Original and Short Versions of the Negative and Positive Affect Scale (NAPAS). Personality and Individual Differences, 105, 233–237.

Joshanloo, M. (2016). Factor Structure of Subjective Well-Being in Iran. Journal of Personality Assessment, 98(4), 435–443.