Psychological Well-Being
Title
Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being
Studies
PCS2, PCS3, PMBC (Positive Relationships Scale only)
Copyright Information
Requests for an electronic version of the Ryff Scales can be sent to Dr. Carol Ryff:
University of Wisconsin–Madison Institute on Aging
2245 Medical Sciences Center
1300 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53706
cryff@wisc.edu
Primary Reference
Ryff, C. D., (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations of the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 1069-1081.
Purpose
To assess four constructs comprising overall psychological well-being: self-acceptance, positive relationships with others, environmental mastery, and purpose in life.
Type of Measure
Established
Description
Participants indicate the extent of their agreement or disagreement with self-descriptive statements reflecting the 4 measures of psychological well-being. Response options are presented using a 6-point Likert-type format.
Scaling
1 = Strongly Disagree, 2 = Moderately Disagree, 3 = Slightly Disagree, 4 = Slightly Agree, 5 = Moderately Agree, 6 = Strongly Agree
Number of Items:
PC2, PCS3:
36 (9 items * 4 scales)
PMBC:
9 (Positive Relationships Scale)
Sample Items
- Most people see me as loving and affectionate. (Positive Relationships)
- When I look at the story of my life, I am pleased with how things have turned out. (Self-Acceptance)
- In general, I feel I am in charge of the situation in which I live. (Environmental Mastery)
- I live life one day at a time and don’t really think about the future. (Reversed; Purpose in Life)
Scoring
Reversed Items: 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 29, 31, 36
- Positive Relationships: Sum Items: 1, 5R, 9R, 13, 17R, 21R, 25, 29R, 33
- Self-Acceptance: Sum Items: 2, 6, 10R, 14, 18, 22R, 26R, 30, 34
- Environmental Mastery: Sum Items: 3, 7R, 11R, 15, 19R, 23, 27, 31R, 35
- Purpose in Life: Sum Items: 4R, 8R, 12R, 16R, 20R, 24, 28, 32, 36R