Home1
Psychological tests2
Core Affect Self-Report Measure (EmoS-15)3

Core Affect Self-Report Measure (EmoS-15) Test

Understand your current emotional tone in about 3 minutes, including positive energy, low mood, and tension. With 15 quick items, you get a clear snapshot that’s easy to track and use in practice.

Start Online Test

Questions: 153 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

20,832 views

1,961 completion

1,722 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

11/25

Low-Arousal Negative Affect (LANA)

Measures the intensity of low-energy negative emotions such as sadness, apathy, and reduced drive in the current moment.

Low

Moderate

High

5 – 12: Low | 13 – 18: Moderate | 19 – 25: High

A score of 11 falls in the Low range, suggesting relatively mild low-activation negative affect at the moment.

example score

15/25

Tension (T)

Measures current internal tension and anxious arousal, reflecting stress-related discomfort and worry.

Low tension

Moderate tension

High tension

5 – 11: Low tension | 12 – 18: Moderate tension | 19 – 25: High tension

A score of 15 falls in the Moderate tension range, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme level of internal stress and anxious activation right now.

example score

8/25

High-Activation Positive Affect (HAPA)

Measures the intensity of high-energy positive emotions such as enthusiasm, vigor, and alertness in the current moment.

Low

Moderate

High

5 – 12: Low | 13 – 19: Moderate | 20 – 25: High

A score of 8 falls in the Low range, suggesting relatively subdued high-energy positive affect right now (e.g., less enthusiasm or activation).

Start Online Test

just completed the test

DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Feeling emotionally overwhelmed

41%OF USERS

People who feel confused by their mood use it for a fast read on whether they are in energized positivity, low-energy negativity, or tension right now.

Clients in counseling or coaching

34%OF USERS

People working with a specialist take it to quickly map their current emotional background and track shifts between sessions.

Researchers and study participants

25%OF USERS

People involved in psychological studies use it when time is limited and a brief, standardized snapshot of core affect is needed.

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.

Negative affect with low activation (Nawla)

Average

Normal range

16.6 — 23.4

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.

Tension (T)

Average

10.6

Normal range

7.2 — 14

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.

Positive affect with high activation (Pawha)

Average

11.9

Normal range

9.1 — 14.7

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.

Start Online Test

Featured On

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

- Does not describe me at all
- Describes me slightly
- Describes me moderately
- Describes me a great deal
- Describes me completely
- Not at all
- A little
- Moderately
- Very much
- Completely
- Does not apply at all
- Slightly applies
- Moderately applies
- Largely applies
- Completely applies

These are 3 of the 15 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

Start Online Test

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Core Affect Self-Report Measure (EmoS-15) Test - Symptoms and Signs

affect

emotional state

This measure assesses current core affect through brief self-report ratings of emotional experience. The Core Affect Self-Report Measure (EmoS-15) is intended to provide a snapshot of momentary affective tone along basic dimensions that can be useful for clinical monitoring and research applications.

The instrument includes 15 items and typically takes about 3 minutes to complete. Developed by James A. Russell, the Core Affect Self-Report Measure (EmoS-15) can be administered repeatedly to track short-term changes in affect, with interpretation generally focusing on the pattern and relative intensity of endorsed affective states.

Author: James A. Russell

Literature: Russell, J. A. Core affect and the psychological construction of emotion. Psychological Review. 2003.