Emotion

Emotion refers to any strong feelings, such as joy, sorrow, or fear. It is an affective state of consciousness in which one of these feelings is experienced, as distinguished from cognitive and volitional states of consciousness. Emotions can be positive or negative and distressing.

The NIH Toolbox Emotion tests include four major domains: Psychological Well-Being, Stress and Self-Efficacy, Social Relationships and Negative Affect.

The NIH Toolbox Emotion Battery, recommended for ages 8+, consists of tests of Positive Affect, General Life Satisfaction, Emotional Support, Friendship, Loneliness, Perceived Rejection, Perceived Hostility and Self-Efficacy. For ages 13+, the battery also includes a measure of Perceived Stress. For ages 18+, the battery also includes tests of Meaning and Purpose, Instrumental Support, Sadness, Perceived Stress, Fear, and Anger.

The NIH Toolbox Parent Proxy Emotion Battery, recommended for parents of children ages 3-12, includes tests of Positive Affect, General Life Satisfaction, Positive Peer Interaction, Social Withdrawal, Peer Rejection, Empathic Behaviors, Fear, Sadness, and Anger. For those with children ages 8-12, tests for Perceived Stress and Self-Efficacy are included.

Friendship

Emotion: Social Relationships, Companionship

Ages: 8+

Test Time: 2 minutes

A computer-adaptive test (CAT) assessment of the participant’s perceptions of the availability of friends or companions with whom to interact or affiliate.

General Life Satisfaction

Emotion: Psychological Well-Being, Life Satisfaction

Ages: 3+

Test Time: 2 minutes

A computer-adaptive test (CAT) or fixed form (FF) assessment of the participant’s cognitive evaluation of life experiences and whether the participant likes his or her life.

Instrumental Support

Emotion: Social Relationships, Perceived Social Support

Ages: 18+

Test Time: 2 minutes

A computer-adaptive test (CAT) assessment of the participant’s perceptions that the people in his or her social network are available to provide material or functional aid in completing daily tasks, if needed.

Loneliness

Emotion: Social Relationships, Companionship

Ages: 8+

Test Time: 1 minutes

A fixed form (FF) assessment of perceptions of being alone, lonely, or socially isolated from others.

Meaning and Purpose

Emotion: Psychological Well-Being, Meaning and Purpose

Ages: 18+

Test Time: 2 minutes

A computer-adaptive test (CAT) assessment of feelings around whether life has purpose and there are good reasons for living, including hopefulness, optimism, and goal-directedness.

Peer Rejection

Emotion: Social Relationships, Social Distress

Ages: 3 - 12

Test Time: 2 minutes

A computer-adaptive test (CAT) assessment of how often the child is left out, avoided, or teased by peers.

Perceived Hostility

Emotion: Social Relationships, Social Distress

Ages: 8+

Test Time: 2 minutes

A computer-adaptive test (CAT) or fixed form (FF) assessment of the participant’s perceptions of hostility in his or her daily social interactions.

Perceived Rejection

Emotion: Social Relationships, Social Distress

Ages: 8+

Test Time: 2 minutes

A computer-adaptive test (CAT) or fixed form (FF) assessment of the participant’s perceptions of rejection in his or her daily social interactions.

Perceived Stress

Emotion: Stress and Self-Efficacy, Stress

Ages: 8+

Test Time: 2 minutes

A computer-adaptive test (CAT) or fixed form (FF) assessment of the participant's perceptions about how unpredictable, uncontrollable, and overloaded his or her life is.

Positive Affect

Emotion: Psychological Well-Being, Positive Affect

Ages: 3+

Test Time: 2 minutes

A computer-adaptive test (CAT) assessment of feelings of pleasurable engagement with the environment, such as happiness, joy, excitement, enthusiasm, and contentment.