Emotional State Scale Test

After eight questions taking about two minutes, the Emotional State Scale Test offers a snapshot of current mood, anxiety, activity, sociability, self-attitude, and expressive style. Results can help you notice your present emotional profile and use it as a starting point for personal reflection.

Questions: 82 minutes

Emotional State Scale Test: situation and reply bubbles

October 2, 2025October 2, 2025Material has been updatedOctober 2, 2025Material has been published

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Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

Facial ExpressivenessFE

Assesses the intensity and variety of the child's facial expressions during observation.

example score-2/1

-2/1Limited expressivenessexample score

-4 – -1Limited expressiveness

0Typical expressiveness

1Vivid expressiveness

A score of -2 falls in the limited expressiveness range, suggesting facial expressions are relatively scarce or muted during observation.

Motor ActivityMA

Assesses the child’s observable level of motor activity and mobility during examination.

example score-1/1

-1/1Reduced activityexample score

-4 – -1Reduced activity

0Typical activity

1Increased activity

A score of -1 falls in the Reduced activity range, suggesting mildly decreased motor activity compared with typical levels.

Attitude Toward SelfATS

Measures the child’s self-esteem and self-perception, ranging from self-criticism to confidence and self-acceptance.

example score-3/1

-3/1Low self-regardexample score

-4 – -1Low self-regard

0Neutral

1Positive self-regard

A score of -3 falls in the Low self-regard range, suggesting pronounced insecurity and self-critical self-perception at the time of observation.

Interests and PlayIaP

Assesses the child’s engagement in play and activities, reflecting curiosity and interest in new pursuits.

example score-1/1

-1/1Reduced interestexample score

-4 – -1Reduced interest

0Typical interest

1Heightened interest

A score of -1 suggests mildly reduced engagement and interest in games or activities compared with the child’s usual level.

SociabilityS

Assesses the child's openness and willingness to engage in social interaction.

example score-1/1

-1/1Low sociabilityexample score

-4 – -1Low sociability

0Typical sociability

1High sociability

A score of -1 falls in the Low sociability range, suggesting reduced openness and a lower tendency to initiate or maintain interaction at the time of observation.

Anxiety and FearAaF

Measures observed anxiety level and the presence of fears in the child’s emotional state.

example score-2/1

-2/1Low anxietyexample score

-4 – -1Low anxiety

0 – 1Elevated anxiety

A score of -2 falls in the Low anxiety range, suggesting relative calmness and confidence with minimal observed fearfulness.

MoodM

Assesses the child's current overall emotional tone from depressed to elevated mood.

example score-2/1

-2/1Low moodexample score

-4 – -1Low mood

0Typical/neutral mood

1Elevated mood

A score of -2 falls in the Low mood range, suggesting a predominantly lowered emotional tone at the time of observation.

Overall Emotional StateOES

This scale summarizes the child's overall emotional background by integrating mood, anxiety, activity, and related observable behaviors.

example score-1/1

-1/1Lowered emotional toneexample score

-4 – -1Lowered emotional tone

0Balanced state

1Elevated emotional background

A score of -1 falls in the lowered emotional tone range, suggesting a mild decrease in overall emotional background compared with a balanced state.

VoiceV

Assesses the child’s vocal expression (intonation, volume, and expressiveness) as observed during interaction.

example score-2/1

-2/1Monotone / subduedexample score

-4 – -1Monotone / subdued

0Neutral / typical

1Lively / expressive

A score of -2 falls in the monotone/subdued range, suggesting reduced vocal expressiveness and flatter intonation during observation.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Child psychologists and psychiatrists

46%OF USERS

Use it during sessions to quickly rate mood, anxiety, activity, and track changes over the course of treatment.

Pediatricians and clinic staff

32%OF USERS

Apply it in routine visits to spot warning signs and decide whether a child needs further mental health assessment.

School and institution counselors

22%OF USERS

Use it to document observable behavior shifts and communicate a clear snapshot of a child’s emotional state to caregivers and specialists.

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.

Shaded area — where most people score

Dot — the average

You — your score lands on each curve after the test— your score, after the test

Facial ExpressionsFE

You?

Average-0.8

Typical rangeTypical-1.6 – -0.1

Possible-4 – 1

Physical activityPa

You?

Average-1.9

Typical rangeTypical-2.7 – -1.2

Possible-4 – 1

Attitude toward the "Self"Att"

You?

Average-1.5

Typical rangeTypical-2.2 – -0.8

Possible-4 – 1

Interests, gamesIg

You?

Average-1.8

Typical rangeTypical-2.5 – -1.1

Possible-4 – 1

SociabilityS

You?

Average-1.9

Typical rangeTypical-2.8 – -1

Possible-4 – 1

Anxiety, fearAf

You?

Average-0.5

Typical rangeTypical-1.4 – 0.3

Possible-4 – 1

MoodM

You?

Average-1.6

Typical rangeTypical-2.4 – -0.9

Possible-4 – 1

Overall assessment of emotional stateOaoes

You?

Average-1.9

Typical rangeTypical-2.6 – -1.3

Possible-4 – 1

VoiceV

You?

Average-2.6

Typical rangeTypical-3.5 – -1.7

Possible-4 – 1

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

For each subscale, record the description of difficulties that best fits the child and the corresponding score: scores with a “−” indicate a negative emotional valence, scores with a “+” indicate a positive emotional valence, and “0” indicates no difficulties.

- -2: Remains in bed all the time
- -1: Slow, mildly slowed down
- 0: Appropriately active (taking physical condition into account)
- +1: Increased drive to be active; fidgety, excessively restless
- -3: Fixed, mask-like
- -2: Exaggerated expression of suffering
- -1: During the interview, pale (expressionless)
- 0: Appropriate to the situation
- +1: Inappropriately animated
- −2: Dull, poorly modulated
- −1: Quiet, fading
- 0: Usual voice
- +1: Inappropriately loud voice

These are 3 of the 8 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

Emotional State Scale Test - Description and methodology of the test

emotional state

pediatrics

For anyone who wants to examine how present feelings are showing up in behavior, the Emotional State Scale Test provides a structured snapshot rather than a broad personality portrait. An emotional state assessment of this kind is most useful when mood, energy, social engagement, or self-attitude seem different from usual. It helps identify a pattern for reflection without turning a temporary state into a fixed label.

What This Assessment Explores

These items examine fear, mood, activity, engagement, sociability, self-regard, and expression as parts of a current emotional state; the dimensions are:

Anxiety and Fear (-4-1) shows fear: Low anxiety, -4--1; Elevated anxiety, 0-1.
Facial Expressiveness (-4-1) and Voice (-4-1) show expression: Limited expressiveness / Monotone / subdued, -4--1; Typical expressiveness / Neutral / typical, 0-0; Vivid expressiveness / Lively / expressive, 1-1.
Motor Activity (-4-1) and Interests and Play (-4-1) show drive: Reduced activity / Reduced interest, -4--1; Typical activity / Typical interest, 0-0; Increased activity / Heightened interest, 1-1.
Attitude Toward Self (-4-1) shows self-regard: Low self-regard, -4--1; Neutral, 0-0; Positive self-regard, 1-1.
Sociability (-4-1) shows openness: Low sociability, -4--1; Typical sociability, 0-0; High sociability, 1-1. Overall Emotional State (-4-1) integrates them: Lowered emotional tone, -4--1; Balanced state, 0-0; Elevated emotional background, 1-1.

Methodology and Scientific Basis

Each item uses a descriptive statement with ordered choices tied to signed values. Choices move from reduced, distressed, or withdrawn presentations through a typical midpoint toward more activated or expressive presentations, while endpoints vary by item. The questionnaire combines item ratings by dimension; its displayed values do not establish a separate point-per-answer rule.

The questionnaire is conceptually consistent with Emotional State Scale (Shats, 2002), but is not presented as a direct adaptation. Li and Lopez (2005) offer a related reference point for describing emotional manifestations, but this is not their published scale. It is an online self-report or guided self-observation format, not a direct reproduction of either source.

Interpret the profile comparatively: values below zero indicate lowered tone on the relevant dimension, zero marks the neutral or typical point, and positive values indicate elevation. The displayed ranges function as descriptive bands rather than population norms or clinical cutoffs. Results can shift with current circumstances, self-awareness, and response style. An emotional state questionnaire can therefore support reflection, while persistent or troubling changes require broader assessment.

Author: Ed Diener, James A. Russell, Peter M. Lewinsohn

Literature:

I. K. Shats. (2002). Application of Clinical and Clinical-Psychological Scales in Child Psychiatry and Pediatrics: Methodological Recommendations. Questions of Mental Health of Children and Adolescents, no. 2, pp. 99-105.
H. C. W. Li and V. Lopez. (2005). Children's Emotional Manifestation Scale: Development and Testing. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 14(2), pp. 223-229. 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2004.01031.x

Updated: 2025-10-02