STAI Scoring & Interpretation · State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
The STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) is a 40-item self-report questionnaire made up of two 20-item scales that measure state anxiety (how a person feels right now) and trait anxiety (how they generally feel). Each scale scores 20–80, with 40 or higher a commonly used threshold for clinical concern; the STAI is copyrighted and licensed (Spielberger et al., 1983).
For professional reference, research, and education only. Not for diagnosis or medical advice.
STAI Score Interpreter
Enter a total score to see its range.
Each subscale has 20 items rated 1–4, with multiple items reverse-scored. The same ≥40 threshold applies to both the State (STAI-S) and Trait (STAI-T) subscales. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety.
STAI-S or STAI-T subscale (20–80) Interpretation 55+ High anxietyScore well above the population mean; clinically elevated anxiety warranting assessment. 40–54 Clinical concernAt or above the commonly cited threshold; suggest further clinical evaluation. 20–39 Below clinical thresholdScore within the normal population range; anxiety not clinically elevated. Spielberger et al. (1970, 1983). The ≥40 clinical concern threshold is a commonly used clinical convention based on normative data from the STAI manual.
The STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) is a 40-item self-report questionnaire made up of two 20-item scales: state anxiety (how a person feels right now) and trait anxiety (how they generally feel). Each scale scores 20 to 80, and a cut point of 39–40 has been suggested for clinically significant state anxiety [5].
What does the STAI measure?
The STAI was developed by Charles Spielberger, Richard Gorsuch and Robert Lushene [1]. It was first published in 1970 (Form X) and revised in 1983 (Form Y) [5].
It is among the most widely researched and used measures of general anxiety [5]. It distinguishes two forms of anxiety: state anxiety (a transient emotional condition) and trait anxiety (a stable disposition toward anxiety).
The State Anxiety Scale (STAI-S) asks respondents to rate how they feel right now on 20 items. The Trait Anxiety Scale (STAI-T) asks how respondents generally feel on 20 items.
Both scales are scored 1–4; 19 of the 40 items, the anxiety-absent ones, are reverse-scored [5]. Each scale yields a score from 20 (minimum anxiety) to 80 (maximum anxiety).
How do you give the STAI?
The STAI is a self-report questionnaire completed without clinician involvement in the administration itself. For the State scale the person rates how they feel right now; for the Trait scale, how they generally feel.
Each item is rated on a 4-point scale. It takes about 10 minutes for adults, and it has been translated into 48 languages [5]. The STAI requires a commercial licence through Mind Garden to administer, so its items are not reproduced here.
How do you score and interpret the STAI?
Enter STAI-S and STAI-T scores from a licensed assessment to see the corresponding interpretation. Each subscale runs from 20 (low anxiety) to 80 (high anxiety).
STAI score ranges
Totals run from 20 to 80: 20–39 below clinical threshold, 40–54 clinical concern and 55–80 high anxiety. A cut point of 39–40 has been suggested for clinically significant symptoms on the State scale, and a higher cut of 54–55 for older adults [5]. The scorer at the top of this page shows each range with its note; it applies the same bands to the State (STAI-S) and Trait (STAI-T) subscales.
Psychometric properties
The STAI's psychometric data come mainly from the publisher's manual [2], which is not openly indexed. Published studies add context:
- Manual data. Test-retest coefficients ranged from 0.31 to 0.86 (lower for the State scale, which tracks transient states), and internal consistency alphas from 0.86 to 0.95 [5].
- Short form. A six-item short form of the State scale correlated above .90 with the full State scale, with acceptable reliability and validity across groups with a range of anxiety levels [3].
- Overlap with depression. In 567 adults at an anxiety disorders clinic, STAI scores correlated with another anxiety measure at r ≤ .52 but with a depression measure at r ≥ .64, suggesting that the STAI also captures substantial depressive and general distress [4].
Limitations
- Not a diagnosis. The STAI measures anxiety severity dimensionally; it does not diagnose an anxiety disorder.
- Overlap with depression. STAI scores correlate strongly with depression, so high scores are not specific to anxiety [4].
- Threshold is a convention. The ≥40 threshold and the higher bands are commonly used conventions, not cut-points from a diagnostic accuracy study; in older adults the STAI has shown poor discriminant validity [5].
- Licensed. The STAI must be purchased and licensed, which limits routine use.
- Self-report. State scores reflect the moment of testing and can shift with context.
What are the alternatives to the STAI?
When STAI licensing isn't available, these scales cover related clinical territory. Check each copyright holder's terms before clinical or commercial use.
- GAD-7: a 7-item screener for generalized anxiety disorder, widely used in primary care.
- HAM-A: a 14-item clinician-rated anxiety scale with psychic and somatic subscales.
- PSWQ: a 16-item measure of pathological worry, the trait aspect of GAD.
- SPIN: a 17-item screen for social anxiety.
For individuals: This page is a clinical reference, not a diagnostic tool. If you have concerns about your own symptoms, bring this information to a qualified mental health professional.
Related
Billing
In the US, the STAI Scoring & Interpretation · State-Trait Anxiety Inventory is usually billed under these CPT codes. Payer rules vary.
Used inCBT- Publisher
- Charles D. Spielberger
- First published
- 1970
- Terms
- Published by Mind Garden. A paid licence is required to administer it, so its items are not reproduced here.
Assessments
- Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) Scoring & Interpretation
- DSM-5-TR Self-Rated Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure, Adult
- GAD-7 Scoring and Interpretation
- BDI-II Scoring Guide · Beck Depression Inventory
- CES-D: Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale
- CES-DC Scoring · Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children
Dot size shows how strongly each scale's condition is linked to this one in HiBoop's co-occurrence map.
FAQ
What is a high STAI score?
Each STAI subscale (State and Trait) ranges from 20 to 80. A score of 39–40 or above has been suggested as the cut point for clinically significant symptoms on the State scale, and a higher cut of 54–55 has been suggested for older adults. Normative values for adults, college students and psychiatric samples are in the manual.
Is the STAI self-report or clinician-administered?
The STAI is a self-report questionnaire. Respondents rate each item on a 4-point scale without clinician involvement in the administration itself. It is widely used in research settings and requires a paid licence through Mind Garden, its publisher, to administer.
Can the STAI diagnose an anxiety disorder?
No. The STAI is a dimensional measure of anxiety severity, not a diagnostic tool. Elevated scores indicate clinically significant anxiety symptoms and may prompt further clinical evaluation, but a diagnosis requires a structured clinical interview conducted by a qualified mental health professional.
What is the difference between state and trait anxiety on the STAI?
State anxiety (STAI-S) reflects a transient emotional reaction to a specific situation — how a person feels right now. Trait anxiety (STAI-T) measures a stable personality disposition — how a person generally feels across time and situations. Both subscales use the same 20–80 scoring range and the same ≥40 clinical concern threshold.
References
- 1.Spielberger CD, Gorsuch RL, Lushene RE. Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Consulting Psychologists Press. 1970.
- 2.Spielberger CD. Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y). Consulting Psychologists Press; 1983.
- 3.Marteau TM, Bekker H. The development of a six-item short-form of the state scale of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Br J Clin Psychol. 1992;31(3):301-6.
- 4.Grös DF, Antony MM, Simms LJ, McCabe RE. Psychometric properties of the State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA): comparison to the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Psychol Assess. 2007;19(4):369-81.
- 5.Julian LJ. Measures of anxiety: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (HADS-A). Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2011;63(Suppl 11):S467-72.
STAI © Charles D. Spielberger; published by Mind Garden. A paid licence is required to administer it, so its items are not reproduced here.
HiBoop does not offer this scale. This page is reference material.