Brief introduction to the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory Overview

The Spielberger State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) is one of the most widely used and well-validated tools for measuring anxiety in psychology. It examines anxiety on two distinct levels:

• State anxiety: How anxious you feel “right now, at this moment”.
• Trait anxiety: Your general, stable tendency to experience anxiety across situations.

The common STAI form includes 40 items: 20 items for state anxiety and 20 items for trait anxiety. It usually takes about 10–15 minutes to complete.

What is the STAI? What is STAI?

The STAI was developed by Charles Spielberger and colleagues to provide a more precise understanding of anxiety. It shows that anxiety is not only a fleeting feeling, but both a situational response to stress and a stable personality characteristic reflected in a person’s emotional style.

Each item describes a specific feeling or internal state, and you rate how much it applies to you on a 4-point scale. The “state” section focuses on how you feel right now, while the “trait” section reflects how you generally feel in everyday life.

• Instrument type: 40-item self-report questionnaire
• Subscales: 20 items for state anxiety, 20 items for trait anxiety
• Use: clinical, research, educational, and counseling settings

What does the STAI measure and who is it for? Domains & Target Group

The STAI focuses on the subjective experience of anxiety and indirectly taps into:

• Feelings of worry, tension, nervousness, and mental unease
• Physical signs related to anxiety (restlessness, racing heart, muscle tension, etc.)
• Concerns about the future and possible negative outcomes
• Your typical pattern of responding to stressful or threatening situations

The inventory is suitable for older adolescents and adults and is widely used with general populations (students, employees, athletes) as well as clinical clients.

Applications of the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory Applications

Distinguishing between “state” and “trait” anxiety makes the STAI useful in many situations:

• Assessing exam anxiety, presentation anxiety, job interview anxiety, and similar stressors
• Evaluating the effectiveness of anxiety-reduction interventions (psychotherapy, medication, relaxation training)
• Researching links between anxiety and academic, work, sports, or relationship performance
• Identifying individuals who experience consistently higher levels of trait anxiety

How is the STAI administered? Administration

The STAI has two parts. Typically, the state anxiety section (how you feel right now) is administered first, followed by the trait anxiety section (how you generally feel in daily life).

• Number of items: 40 (20 state, 20 trait)
• Response format: 4-point scale (e.g., not at all / somewhat / moderately / very much so)
• Administration: self-report, paper or online
• Estimated time: about 10–15 minutes

Before you take the STAI Before You Start

• Answer the questions in a relatively quiet environment without major distractions.
• For “state” items, focus only on how you feel right now, not on the past or the future.
• For “trait” items, think about your usual and typical emotional state over the past months or years.
• There are no right or wrong answers; what matters is that your responses match your actual experience.
• Your first, spontaneous response to each item is usually the most accurate—try not to overthink.

Interpreting STAI results Interpretation

The STAI yields two main scores: a state anxiety score and a trait anxiety score. Higher scores indicate higher levels of anxiety in each domain.

The state anxiety score is sensitive to recent events (exams, work pressure, family stress, etc.) and can change from day to day or week to week. In contrast, the trait anxiety score provides a more stable picture of your typical emotional style.

For precise interpretation, scores are usually compared with age- and culture-specific norms, and important decisions are best made with input from a mental health professional.

• High scores do not automatically mean you have an “anxiety disorder”; they reflect higher anxiety levels.
• Comparing state and trait scores helps clarify whether anxiety is mainly situational or more stable.
• Tracking state anxiety scores over time can show how effective treatments or relaxation strategies are.

Mapping state and trait anxiety Anxiety Map

You can imagine the STAI as a two-layer anxiety map: the first layer shows your momentary anxiety, and the second layer reflects your more stable anxiety pattern as part of your personality.

Frequently asked questions about the STAI FAQ

Ethical considerations when using the STAI Ethical Considerations

• Your responses must be kept confidential and used only for legitimate professional or research purposes.
• Test results should not be used to label, stigmatize, or judge you as a person.
• Participation is voluntary, and you can stop the test at any time if you feel uncomfortable.
• If your scores are high or you feel worried, it is advisable to consult a psychologist or psychiatrist.
• Using STAI scores in important decisions (e.g., educational or occupational) should always be combined with additional information and multi-method assessment.

Further reading on the STAI References

For more information about the STAI and its psychometric properties, you may refer to:

• Spielberger, C. D. – Original works introducing the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).
• Norming and validation studies of the STAI in different populations (student, clinical, general).
• Databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar for up-to-date research on anxiety and the STAI.

In research, it is important to use a clearly specified version of the inventory, follow the official scoring rules, and report administration procedures and norms transparently.