The Affect Balance Scale: A Validity Study With Aged Samples

The Affect Balance Scale (ABS) and its two subscales, Positive Affect Scale (PAS) and Negative Affect Scale (NAS), were validated through known groups analysis and independent criteria. Comparisons of mean scores of 2 elderly samples, 8 psychiatric outpatients, and 19 normal subjects, indicate significant discriminability of these scales. Different criteria correlated with each subscale: PAS correlated positively with morale and avowed happiness, while NAS correlated with poorer mental health and greater role loss. The pattern of correlations indicated that ABS was the best over-all measure of psychological well-being. Further empirical support for the two-dimensional base of the ABS was indicated by the non-significant correlation between PAS and NAS. While the ABS is applicable to an aged population, differential age norms should be developed to increase further its utility in comparing various age groups and age-related change.