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).
STAI Score Interpreter
At or above the commonly cited threshold; suggest further clinical evaluation.
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. Educational reference only — not a diagnostic tool.
For reference only — not an assessment, diagnosis, or medical advice. This page provides scoring reference material; interpretation and clinical decisions rest with a qualified clinician.
The STAI is the most widely used research measure of anxiety, consisting of two 20-item scales: State Anxiety (how you feel right now) and Trait Anxiety (how you generally feel). Scores 20–80 per subscale. Developed by Spielberger et al. (1983). © Charles D. Spielberger; published by Mind Garden.
What the STAI measures
The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was developed by Charles D. Spielberger, Richard L. Gorsuch, and Robert E. Lushene (1970), with the Form Y revision published in 1983. It is the most widely used measure of anxiety in psychological research, with over 20,000 citations. It distinguishes between two conceptually distinct forms of anxiety: state anxiety (a transient emotional condition) and trait anxiety (a stable personality disposition toward anxiety).
The State Anxiety Scale (STAI-S) asks respondents to rate how they feel right now on 20 items (e.g., "I feel calm," "I feel tense"). The Trait Anxiety Scale (STAI-T) asks how respondents generally feel on 20 items. Both scales are scored 1–4, with multiple items reverse-scored. Each scale yields a score from 20 (minimum anxiety) to 80 (maximum anxiety).
The STAI is © Charles D. Spielberger, published by Mind Garden, and requires a paid licence to administer. It is available for purchase through Mind Garden. Common validated alternatives are the GAD-7 (free to use; Pfizer states no permission is required), the HAM-A, and the SPIN (© Jonathan Davidson, permission required); check each copyright holder's terms. The PSWQ is the preferred scale when worry (the trait aspect of GAD) specifically needs to be measured.
How to administer 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. The STAI requires a commercial licence through Mind Garden to administer, so its items are not reproduced here.
STAI scoring and interpretation
Enter STAI-S and STAI-T scores from a licensed assessment to see the corresponding interpretation.
Score range: 20 (calm) to 80 (extreme anxiety)
Score range: 20 (low anxiety disposition) to 80 (high anxiety disposition)
STAI © Charles D. Spielberger; published by Mind Garden. This interpreter is for educational reference only.
STAI Score Ranges
Spielberger et al. (1983). Score of 40+ on either subscale is the commonly cited clinical concern threshold. Population mean ≈ 35–40. The same bands apply to both the State (STAI-S) and Trait (STAI-T) subscales.
| Score range | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 20–39 | Below clinical threshold |
| 40–54 | Clinical concern |
| 55–80 | High anxiety |
Psychometric properties
The STAI's psychometric data come mainly from the publisher's manual (Spielberger, 1983), which is not openly indexed. Published studies add context. 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 (Marteau & Bekker, 1992). In 567 patients 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 (Grös et al., 2007).
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.
- Threshold is a convention. The ≥40 threshold and the higher bands are commonly used conventions based on the manual's normative data, not cut-points from a diagnostic accuracy study.
- 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.
Anxiety Screening Alternatives
When STAI licensing isn't available, these validated tools cover the same clinical territory. Check each copyright holder's terms before clinical or commercial use.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale
7-item anxiety screener, the standard primary care tool. Best equivalent to STAI-T for clinical screening workflows. Free to use; Pfizer states no permission is required to reproduce, translate, display or distribute it.
Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale
14-item clinician-rated anxiety scale with psychic and somatic subscales. Criterion standard for anxiety clinical trials.
Penn State Worry Questionnaire
16-item measure of pathological worry, the closest equivalent to the STAI-T for GAD-specific trait anxiety.
Measuring anxiety in HiBoop
HiBoop does not offer the STAI; this page is reference material. For anxiety, HiBoop offers the GAD-7 and PSWQ, with automated scoring and tracking over time.
HiBoop does not offer this scale. This page is reference material.This library is an academic and clinical reference. A scale described here is not necessarily offered in HiBoop; each page says whether it is.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a high STAI score?
Each STAI subscale (State and Trait) ranges from 20 to 80. A score of 40 or above on either subscale is a commonly used clinical threshold indicating elevated anxiety, based on Spielberger's normative data. Population means for non-clinical adults typically fall between 35 and 40.
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.
Bill this assessment
The STAI Scoring & Interpretation · State-Trait Anxiety Inventory qualifies for reimbursement under these CPT codes (US).
Measurement-based care in practice
For clinicians
HiBoop does not offer this scale. For the scales it does offer, HiBoop automates delivery, scoring and longitudinal tracking across your patient panel.
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.
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.View source
- 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.View source
Last reviewed: Jun 3, 2026
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