The Flourishing Scale (FS) is an 8-item measure assessing eudaimonic wellbeing across purpose, relationships, engagement, contribution, competence, self-respect, optimism, and social respect—taking only 2-3 minutes to complete.
Scores range from 8-56 (higher = greater flourishing), with strong reliability (α = 0.87) and validity across 30+ countries; it complements the SWLS to provide comprehensive hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing assessment.
The FS supports the complete mental health model where optimal wellbeing requires both low symptoms and high flourishing, making it valuable for positive psychology interventions, clinical recovery monitoring, and public health surveillance.
Introduction
The Flourishing Scale (FS) is a brief 8-item measure of psychological flourishing developed by Diener et al. (2010). It assesses self-perceived success in key areas such as relationships, self-esteem, purpose, and optimism. Unlike measures focused solely on happiness or life satisfaction, the FS captures eudaimonic wellbeing—the experience of meaning, purpose, engagement, and optimal human functioning. It provides a holistic view of psychological prosperity beyond the mere absence of distress.
Flourishing: Beyond Happiness
Flourishing represents a state of optimal wellbeing where individuals experience positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment (sometimes called PERMA in positive psychology). While hedonic wellbeing focuses on pleasure and life satisfaction, eudaimonic wellbeing emphasizes meaning, growth, and realizing one’s potential. The Flourishing Scale captures this broader conceptualization, measuring psychological prosperity across multiple life domains.
Comprehensive Wellbeing Assessment
The FS assesses eight core aspects of human flourishing:
Purpose and meaning – Having direction and meaning in life
Supportive relationships – Having rewarding and supportive relationships
Engagement and interest – Being engaged and interested in activities
Contributing to others’ wellbeing – Contributing to the happiness of others
Competence – Feeling capable and competent
Self-acceptance and self-respect – Having self-worth and good character
Optimism – Maintaining optimistic outlook about the future
Being respected – Feeling valued and respected by others
Complementary to Satisfaction with Life
The Flourishing Scale was designed to complement the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). While the SWLS measures global life satisfaction (the cognitive-evaluative component of wellbeing), the FS assesses psychological resources and strengths. Together, these brief scales provide comprehensive assessment of both hedonic (SWLS) and eudaimonic (FS) wellbeing in just 13 items total (Diener et al., 2010).
Theoretical Foundation
The FS draws from positive psychology and eudaimonic theories of wellbeing, integrating elements such as purpose (Ryff), engagement (flow theory), positive relationships, and contribution. It aligns with the “complete mental health” model, where mental health includes both the absence of illness and the presence of flourishing (Keyes, 2002; 2005).
Universal Applicability
The Flourishing Scale has been validated across diverse populations, cultures, and age groups. Its brevity, simplicity, and focus on universal aspects of human functioning make it suitable for international research, clinical practice, public health surveillance, and educational settings. The scale has been translated into dozens of languages and used globally.
🌟 Optimal Functioning: The Flourishing Scale measures psychological prosperity – not just the absence of illness but the presence of mental health and optimal human functioning.
Copyright and Usage Responsibility: Check that you have the proper rights and permissions to use this assessment tool in your research. This may include purchasing appropriate licenses, obtaining permissions from authors/copyright holders, or ensuring your usage falls within fair use guidelines.
Proper Attribution: When using or referencing this scale, cite the original development:
Diener, E., Wirtz, D., Tov, W., Kim-Prieto, C., Choi, D. W., Oishi, S., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2010). New well-being measures: Short scales to assess flourishing and positive and negative feelings. Social Indicators Research, 97(2), 143-156.
Diener, E., Wirtz, D., Tov, W., Kim-Prieto, C., Choi, D. W., Oishi, S., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2010). New well-being measures: Short scales to assess flourishing and positive and negative feelings. Social Indicators Research, 97(2), 143-156.
Complete Mental Health Model:
Keyes, C. L. M. (2002). The mental health continuum: From languishing to flourishing in life. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 43(2), 207-222.
Keyes, C. L. M. (2005). Mental illness and/or mental health? Investigating axioms of the complete state model of health. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73(3), 539-548.
Validation Research:
Silva, A. J., & Caetano, A. (2013). Validation of the Flourishing Scale and Scale of Positive and Negative Experience in Portugal. Social Indicators Research, 110(2), 469-478.
Hone, L. C., et al. (2014). Measuring flourishing: The impact of operational definitions on the prevalence of high levels of wellbeing. International Journal of Wellbeing, 4(1), 62-90.
Intervention Research:
Seligman, M. E. P., et al. (2005). Positive psychology progress. American Psychologist, 60(5), 410-421.
Seligman, M. E. P., et al. (2006). Positive psychotherapy. American Psychologist, 61(8), 774-788.
Wellbeing Therapy:
Fava, G. A., & Tomba, E. (2009). Increasing psychological well-being and resilience by psychotherapeutic methods. Journal of Personality, 77(6), 1903-1934.
A radiant kingfisher thriving in its natural habitat — a symbol of psychological flourishing, well-being, and human potential measured by the FS (Flourishing Scale)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the FS measure?
The Flourishing Scale (FS) measures psychological flourishing and eudaimonic wellbeing across eight core domains: purpose and meaning, supportive relationships, engagement, contributing to others, competence, self-respect, optimism, and being respected. It assesses self-perceived success in areas of optimal human functioning beyond just happiness or life satisfaction.
How long does the FS take to complete?
The Flourishing Scale takes approximately 2-3 minutes to complete. It consists of only 8 items rated on a 7-point Likert scale, making it an ultra-brief yet comprehensive assessment of psychological prosperity suitable for research, clinical practice, and population surveillance.
Is the FS free to use?
Yes, the Flourishing Scale is freely available for research and educational use. Researchers can access the scale and related materials at no cost from Ed Diener's laboratory website at the University of Illinois. Proper citation of the original 2010 development article is required when using the scale.
How is the FS scored?
The FS is scored by summing all 8 items (no reverse scoring needed), producing a total score ranging from 8 to 56. Higher scores indicate greater flourishing. Scores of 48-56 indicate high flourishing, 40-47 moderate flourishing, 32-39 average, 24-31 languishing, and 8-23 low flourishing.
What's the difference between FS and SWLS?
The FS measures eudaimonic wellbeing (meaning, purpose, engagement, optimal functioning) while the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) measures hedonic wellbeing (life satisfaction and happiness). The FS was designed to complement the SWLS, and together they provide comprehensive assessment of both dimensions of wellbeing in just 13 total items.
How reliable is the FS?
The FS demonstrates strong reliability with internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) of 0.87 in U.S. samples and 0.78-0.89 across international cultures. Test-retest reliability is 0.71 over one month. The scale shows good temporal stability while remaining sensitive to meaningful life changes and intervention effects.
