3.
Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scales (PWB), 42 Item version
Please indicate your degree of agreement (using a score ranging from 1-6) to the following
sentences.
Strongly Strongl
disagree y agree
I am not afraid to voice my opinions, even when they are in
1. 1 2 3 4 5 6
opposition to the opinions of most people.
2. In general, I feel I am in charge of the situation in which I live. 1 2 3 4 5 6
3. I am not interested in activities that will expand my horizons. 1 2 3 4 5 6
4. Most people see me as loving and affectionate. 1 2 3 4 5 6
I live life one day at a time and don't really think about the
5. 1 2 3 4 5 6
future.
When I look at the story of my life, I am pleased with how
6. 1 2 3 4 5 6
things have turned out.
My decisions are not usually influenced by what everyone else
7. 1 2 3 4 5 6
is doing.
8. The demands of everyday life often get me down. 1 2 3 4 5 6
I think it is important to have new experiences that challenge
9. 1 2 3 4 5 6
how you think about yourself and the world.
Maintaining close relationships has been difficult and frustrating
10. 1 2 3 4 5 6
for me.
11. I have a sense of direction and purpose in life. 1 2 3 4 5 6
12. In general, I feel confident and positive about myself. 1 2 3 4 5 6
13. I tend to worry about what other people think of me. 1 2 3 4 5 6
I do not fit very well with the people and the community around
14. 1 2 3 4 5 6
me.
When I think about it, I haven't really improved much as a
15. 1 2 3 4 5 6
person over the years.
I often feel lonely because I have few close friends with whom
16. 1 2 3 4 5 6
to share my concerns.
17. My daily activities often seem trivial and unimportant to me. 1 2 3 4 5 6
I feel like many of the people I know have gotten more out of
18. 1 2 3 4 5 6
life than I have.
I tend to be influenced by people with strong opinions.
19. 1 2 3 4 5 6
I am quite good at managing the many responsibilities of my
20. 1 2 3 4 5 6
daily life.
I have the sense that I have developed a lot as a person over
21. 1 2 3 4 5 6
time.
I enjoy personal and mutual conversations with family members
22. 1 2 3 4 5 6
or friends.
I don't have a good sense of what it is I'm trying to accomplish
23. 1 2 3 4 5 6
in life.
24. I like most aspects of my personality. 1 2 3 4 5 6
I have confidence in my opinions, even if they are contrary to
25. 1 2 3 4 5 6
the general consensus.
26. I often feel overwhelmed by my responsibilities 1 2 3 4 5 6
I do not enjoy being in new situations that require me to change
27. 1 2 3 4 5 6
my old familiar ways of doing things.
People would describe me as a giving person, willing to share
28. 1 2 3 4 5 6
my time with others.
I enjoy making plans for the future and working to make them a
29. 1 2 3 4 5 6
reality.
In many ways, I feel disappointed about my achievements in
30. 1 2 3 4 5 6
life.
It's difficult for me to voice my own opinions on controversial
31. matters. 1 2 3 4 5 6
I have difficulty arranging my life in a way that is satisfying to
32. 1 2 3 4 5 6
me.
For me, life has been a continuous process of learning,
33. 1 2 3 4 5 6
changing, and growth.
I have not experienced many warm and trusting relationships
34. 1 2 3 4 5 6
with others.
Some people wander aimlessly through life, but I am not one of
35. 1 2 3 4 5 6
them
My attitude about myself is probably not as positive as most
36. 1 2 3 4 5 6
people feel about themselves.
I judge myself by what I think is important, not by the values of
37. what others think is important. 1 2 3 4 5 6
I have been able to build a home and a lifestyle for myself that is
38. 1 2 3 4 5 6
much to my liking.
I gave up trying to make big improvements or changes in my
39. 1 2 3 4 5 6
life a long time ago.
I know that I can trust my friends, and they know they can trust
40. 1 2 3 4 5 6
me.
41. I sometimes feel as if I've done all there is to do in life. 1 2 3 4 5 6
When I compare myself to friends and acquaintances, it makes
42. 1 2 3 4 5 6
me feel good about who I am.
Scoring Instruction:
1) Recode negative phrased items: # 3, 5, 10, 13,14,15,16,17,18,19, 23, 26, 27, 30,31,32,
34, 36, 39, 41. (i.e., if the scored is 6 in one of these items, the adjusted score is 1; if
5, the adjusted score is 2 and so on…)
2) Add together the final degree of agreement in the 6 dimensions:
a. Autonomy: items 1,7,13,19,25, 31, 37
b. Environmental mastery: items 2,8,14,20,26,32,38
c. Personal Growth: items 3,9,15,21,27,33,39
d. Positive Relations: items: 4,10,16,22,28,34,40
e. Purpose in life: items: 5,11,17,23,29,35,41
f. Self-acceptance: items 6,12,18,24,30,36,42
