Positive and Negative Event Scales
The PES and the NES have been developed within the traditions of uplift and hassle measurement with the assistance of almost 1600 participants in three sets of studies since 1995. The University (college) student versions of these scales have been available for some time and several journal publications illustrate their psychometric qualities (e.g. the PES, Maybery, 2004; NES, Maybery, 2003). Development of these measures has focused on sub-scale structures, reliability and validity and with a particular focus on both positive and negative events being representative of life domains. The scales were developed in response to several key problems with previous event measures (see Maybery & Graham, 2001 for an overview).
In addition, middle aged adult versions of the PES and NES are now available. In 2006 we published psychometric information regarding the PES (Maybery, Jones-Ellis, Neale, & Arentz) and in 2007 we published information about the NES measure for middle aged adults (Maybery, Neale, Arentz & Jones-Ellis, 2007). We believe that these measures provide important improvements to many of the previous hassle and uplift measure. Importantly they have clear and replicated subscale structures representing important life and daily event domains.
Both sets of scales are available for download. We hope to develop manuals to accompany the scales in future.
Download - The Positive and Negative Event Scales are freely available to you for research purposes (any commercial use is subject to copyright by the author). But it is requested out of courtesy, that you contact the author (dmaybery@gmail.com) should you choose to download and use the measures for research. The scales are also available from me in Word format (please email me as above/below). I would also be grateful if you use the scales to add your data back into our pool of information (e.g. factor structures, validity, reliability data) about the measures.
Positive Event (uplift) Scale for University Students
Negative Event (hassle) Scale for University Students
Positive Event (uplift) Scale for Middle Aged Adults (frequency and severity)
Negative Event (hassle) Scale for Middle Aged Adults (frequency and severity)
Also note that a Thai version of the Negative Event (hassle) Scale for University Students has recently been developed (contact dmaybery@gmail.com for availability).
Content and construct validity - Little interest has focused on event content (in hassle and uplift scales) including sub-scale structure, their concurrent validity or the development of hassle and uplift sub-scales. A key problem with past measures is that interpersonal events are generally missing or inadequately conceptualised on many commonly used hassle and uplift scales.
Most stress research regarding interpersonal relations has focused on the secondary appraisal (coping) concept of social support. The current measures incorporate interpersonal relations (and events) within the concept of primary appraisal. The attachment, life domain and personality literatures were drawn on to support their inclusion. The measures include subscales associated with family members (e.g. partner, children), with work colleagues (e.g. boss, other workers) and social relationships (e.g. friends, see publications below to support these psychometric inclusions).
Positive events (uplifts) - A second concern with hassle and uplift measurement has been the lack of theory and research in relation to positive events. Most previous research has focused on stressful pathologies and coping within the negative dimension. Positive events are often placed in a comparison or contrast position. Consequently, the second major aim of this research has been to advance the measurement of uplifts.
The series of studies that developed both the student and middle aged adult versions of the PES and NES highlight the importance of interpersonal relations within the measurement of primary appraisal. The scales also improve the measurement of hassles and uplifts by developing factor structures that appear to be stable and reliable. The findings have indicated the importance of including a range of both positive and negative interpersonal sub-scales within hassle and uplift measurement.
Event frequency versus severity - Finally, an important debate in the event literature has surrounded the measurement of hassle frequency and intensity (e.g. Dohrenwend & Shrout, 1985; Lazarus, 1984; Lazarus, DeLongis, Folkman & Gruen, 1985; Reich, Parella & Filstead, 1988). Debate has focused on problems thought inherent in measuring intensity of events rather then merely frequency. The adult measures developed here include measures of both frequency and intensity. Our research indicates that clear factor structures emerge in both types of data (frequency and severity) – allowing choice of scaling for event measures.
While much future research needs to be undertaken with these measures the NES appears to summarise a broad range of factors that reflect,"...a source of harm, loss, threat or challenge" (Lazarus & Folkman, 1989, p.3) for a university student population. Equally, the positive events measured with the PES also seem important for the wellbeing and happiness of these subjects.
Psychometric Evidence to support the scales
Maybery, D.J. & Graham, D. (2001). Hassles and Uplifts: Including interpersonal events . Stress and Health 17 . 91-104.
Maybery, D.J. (2003). Including interpersonal events on hassle and uplift scales: verification employing global and molecular events. Stress and Health . 19 , 289-296
Maybery, D.J. (2003). Incorporating interpersonal events within hassle measurement. Stress and Health . 19, 97-110.
Maybery, D.J. (2004) Incorporating interpersonal events within uplift measurement . Social Research Indicators 68 35-57.
Maybery D.J., Jones-Ellis J. Neale, J. & Arentz, A. (2006). The Positive Event Scale: Measuring uplift frequency and intensity in an adult sample. Social Indicators Research. 78(1), 61-83
Maybery D.J., Neale, J., Arentz, A. & Jones-Ellis J. (2007).The Negative Event Scale: measuring frequency and intensity of adult hassles. Anxiety, Stress and Coping, 20(2) 163-176.