Neuroticism Assessment Scale (NAS-20)

NAS-20 Instructions

Rate each statement based on how accurately it describes you. Use the following scale:

1 = Strongly Disagree
2 = Disagree
3 = Neutral
4 = Agree
5 = Strongly Agree

Answer honestly and based on how you have felt within the last month, not your ideal self.

Assessment Items

1. I often feel anxious or worried, even about small things.

   1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □ 5 □

2. I frequently experience mood swings throughout the day.

   1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □ 5 □

3. I tend to get upset easily when things don’t go as planned.

   1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □ 5 □

4. I often feel overwhelmed by daily responsibilities.

   1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □ 5 □

5. I worry excessively about what others think of me.

   1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □ 5 □

6. I have trouble controlling my emotions when stressed.

   1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □ 5 □

7. I often feel sad or depressed without a clear reason.

   1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □ 5 □

8. Minor setbacks tend to ruin my entire day.

   1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □ 5 □

9. I frequently feel nervous in social situations.

   1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □ 5 □

10. I often lose sleep due to worry or racing thoughts.

    1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □ 5 □

11. I am easily irritated by other people’s behaviour.

    1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □ 5 □

12. I often feel like I’m not good enough.

    1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □ 5 □

13. I tend to expect the worst possible outcome in situations.

    1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □ 5 □

14. I feel emotionally unstable compared to others.

    1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □ 5 □

15. I often feel guilty about things that aren’t really my fault.

    1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □ 5 □

16. I have difficulty bouncing back from disappointments.

    1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □ 5 □

17. I frequently feel tense or on edge.

    1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □ 5 □

18. I often doubt my abilities, even in areas where I’m competent.

    1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □ 5 □

19. I tend to ruminate on negative experiences for days or weeks.

    1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □ 5 □

20. I often feel like my emotions are out of control.

    1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □ 5 □

Scoring Instructions

Total Score Calculation: Add up your responses to all 20 items. Your total score will range from 20 to 100.

Score Interpretation:

• 20-25%: Very Low Neuroticism – High emotional stability

• 26-30%: Low Neuroticism – Generally emotionally stable

• 30-50%: Moderate Neuroticism – Heightened emotional reactivity – beginning to feel anxiety regularly. Classified as silent anxiety as it will seem to come out of no where when the conditions are right and then can go back under the surface when your environment is calm again. 

• 51-60%: High Neuroticism – Elevated emotional sensitivity

• 61-80%: Very High Neuroticism – Significant emotional instability

• 81-100%: Extremely High Neuroticism – Chronic emotional instability

Important Notes

Clinical Disclaimer: This assessment is for educational and self-reflection purposes only. It is not a diagnostic tool and should not replace professional psychological evaluation. If you scored high and are experiencing significant distress, consider consulting a licensed mental health professional.

Validity Considerations: This scale draws from established neuroticism research but has not undergone full psychometric validation. Results should be interpreted cautiously and in conjunction with other self-assessment tools.

Theoretical Foundation

This assessment is based on the neuroticism dimension of the Big Five personality model, which represents individual differences in emotional stability versus emotional reactivity. The items assess the six primary facets of neuroticism identified in personality research:

1. Anxiety – Tendency to worry and feel anxious

2. Angry Hostility – Tendency toward irritability and anger

3. Depression – Proneness to sadness and hopelessness

4. Self-Consciousness – Social anxiety and embarrassment

5. Impulsiveness – Difficulty controlling desires and urges

6. Vulnerability – Susceptibility to stress and poor coping

References

Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. R. (1992). Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) and NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) professional manual. Psychological Assessment Resources.

DeYoung, C. G., Quilty, L. C., & Peterson, J. B. (2007). Between facets and domains: 10 aspects of the Big Five. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 93(5), 880-896. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.93.5.880

John, O. P., Naumann, L. P., & Soto, C. J. (2008). Paradigm shift to the integrative Big Five trait taxonomy: History, measurement, and conceptual issues. In O. P. John, R. W. Robins, & L. A. Pervin (Eds.), Handbook of personality: Theory and research (3rd ed., pp. 114-158). Guilford Press.

Soto, C. J., & John, O. P. (2017). The next Big Five Inventory (BFI-2): Developing and assessing a hierarchical model with 15 facets to enhance bandwidth, fidelity, and predictive power. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 113(1), 117-143. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000096

Watson, D., & Clark, L. A. (1984). Negative affectivity: The disposition to experience aversive emotional states. Psychological Bulletin, 96(3), 465-490. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.96.3.465.