State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)
Professional psychological assessment tool calculating State (Y-1) and Trait (Y-2) anxiety scores with automated reverse-scoring logic and clinical interpretation ranges.
Instructions: This test consists of 40 items. Part 1 asks how you feel right now. Part 2 asks how you feel generally.
About
The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory differentiates between two distinct types of anxiety. State anxiety reflects a temporary emotional reaction to a specific situation. It involves feelings of tension or apprehension that fluctuate over time. Trait anxiety represents a stable personality characteristic. It indicates a general tendency to perceive stressful situations as dangerous or threatening. This tool processes the standard 40-item questionnaire using the Spielberger scoring protocol. It automatically handles the reverse-scoring logic required for positive vs negative affect items. Manual calculation errors frequently occur during the inversion of weighted scores. This digital implementation eliminates that risk. It provides immediate raw scores for both scales.
Formulas
The total score for each scale (State and Trait) is calculated by summing the weighted responses. Specific items are reverse-keyed to control for acquiescence bias. The formula involves separating items into Direct (D) and Reverse (R) sets.
Where x is the user response on a 4-point Likert scale (1 to 4). The Total Score (TS) for a scale with n items is:
Reference Data
| Score Range | Anxiety Level | Clinical Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 20 − 37 | Low | Indicates minimal anxiety. The subject is likely calm and secure. |
| 38 − 44 | Moderate | Suggests a standard level of stress or responsiveness to environmental stimuli. |
| 45 − 80 | High | Indicates significant anxiety levels. In a clinical setting, this may warrant further diagnostic evaluation. |