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Multidimensional State Boredom Scale (MSBS)3

Multidimensional State Boredom Scale (MSBS) Test

In about 6 minutes, it helps you understand how boredom shows up right now and how it affects motivation and behavior. It captures key facets like distraction and irritation to guide clearer, more targeted support.

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Questions: 296 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

13,133 views

1,127 completions

799 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

16/35

Subjective Slowing of Time (SSoT)

Measures how strongly a person feels that time is passing slowly and dragging in the moment.

Normal time flow

Mild time dragging

Strong time slowing

5 – 14: Normal time flow | 15 – 24: Mild time dragging | 25 – 35: Strong time slowing

A score of 16 falls in the Mild time dragging range, suggesting a noticeable but not intense sense that time is moving slowly right now.

example score

11/35

Inattention (I)

Measures how much boredom is currently disrupting concentration and sustained attention.

Low

Moderate

High

5 – 15: Low | 16 – 25: Moderate | 26 – 35: High

A score of 11 falls in the Low range, suggesting relatively little boredom-related difficulty maintaining focus right now.

example score

18/28

Depressed Mood (DM)

Measures the degree of low mood and reduced energy linked to the current experience of boredom.

Low

Moderate

High

4 – 12: Low | 13 – 20: Moderate | 21 – 28: High

A score of 18 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable dip in mood and energy associated with boredom right now.

example score

30/35

Irritability (I)

Measures the intensity of negative emotions and frustration that arise when a situation feels uninteresting or unstimulating.

Low

Moderate

High

5 – 14: Low | 15 – 24: Moderate | 25 – 35: High

A score of 30 falls in the High range, suggesting pronounced irritability and dissatisfaction in the current moment when boredom is present.

example score

38/70

Disengagement (D)

Detachment measures how disengaged, uninterested, and uninvolved you feel in what is happening right now.

Low detachment

Moderate detachment

High detachment

10 – 29: Low detachment | 30 – 49: Moderate detachment | 50 – 70: High detachment

A score of 38 indicates a moderate level of detachment, suggesting some current disengagement and reduced interest in ongoing activities.

example score

139/203

State Boredom (SB)

Assesses the current intensity of experienced boredom as an emotional state.

Low

Moderate

High

29 – 87: Low | 88 – 145: Moderate | 146 – 203: High

A score of 139 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme level of boredom right now with some dissatisfaction and reduced interest in the current situation.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Students fighting procrastination

41%OF USERS

They take it to understand whether boredom is driving distraction, low motivation, and time-dragging during studying.

Therapy and coaching clients

34%OF USERS

They use it to clarify how boredom shows up alongside apathy, irritability, or low mood and to guide coping strategies.

Researchers and clinicians

25%OF USERS

They administer it to measure momentary boredom and link it to performance, mood shifts, or risky behavior in studies or practice.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Subjective slowing of time (Ssot)

Average

20.4

Normal range

14.8 — 25.9

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Inattention (I)

Average

15.4

Normal range

10.4 — 20.4

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Depression (D)

Average

15.6

Normal range

11.2 — 20.1

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Irritability (I)

Average

Normal range

21.4 — 30.7

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Detachment (D)

Average

32.4

Normal range

23.2 — 41.7

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Assessment of Boredom State (AoBS)

Average

84.1

Normal range

51.3 — 117

min.

max.

203

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

Please indicate the extent to which you agree with each statement based on how you feel right now, even if this differs from your usual state. Use the response scale provided.

- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Neutral
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Neutral
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Neutral
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree

These are 3 of the 29 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

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WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Multidimensional State Boredom Scale (MSBS) Test - Symptoms and Signs

boredom

This self-report measure assesses the intensity and qualitative features of current boredom. The Multidimensional State Boredom Scale (MSBS) is designed to capture the individual’s momentary experience, including cognitive, affective, and attentional aspects of boredom.

The instrument includes 29 items and typically requires about 6 minutes to complete. Items sample multiple dimensions commonly associated with boredom (e.g., disengagement, irritability, attentional difficulty, and altered time perception) and are appropriate for use in clinical and research settings where understanding state-level boredom may inform case conceptualization or outcome monitoring. Developed by John D. Eastwood, the Multidimensional State Boredom Scale (MSBS) supports structured assessment of boredom “in the here and now” and can be used alongside other symptom and functioning measures as clinically indicated.

Author: James A. Russell, John D. Eastwood

Literature: Eastwood, J. D., Frischen, A., Fenske, M. J., & Smilek, D. The unengaged mind: defining boredom in terms of attention. Perspectives on Psychological Science. 2012.; Fahlman, S. A., Mercer-Lynn, K. B., Flora, D. B., & Eastwood, J. D. Development and validation of the multidimensional state boredom scale. Assessment. 2013.