Friedman Life Balance Scale

On a scale from 0 to 5 how much does each item describe you at the present time?
0 = not at all; 1 = rarely; 2 = a little bit; 3 = somewhat; 4 = a lot; 5 = a great deal 

_____ 1. Reflect on what I can do differently in situations and choose to do it.

_____ 2. Clarify my options and problem solve.

_____ 3. Sort things out and see things in a larger perspective

_____ 4. Identify steps to take, to plan and then take actions.

_____ 5. Take control of my life.                                                                                  

_____ 6. Understand myself and others well.

_____ 7. Have a deep connection with my feelings

_____ 8. Be mindful of and accountable for my thoughts, feelings and actions.

_____ 9. Communicate well with others by expressing myself effectively, listening to others and feeding back what I hear.

_____ 10. Feel empathetic & connected with others.                                              

_____ 11. Forgive myself: let go of judgments and “shoulds” & accept/love myself.

_____ 12. Know that I am good enough

_____ 13. Feel a deep capacity for self-compassion and self-love

_____ 14. Feel strong and empowered.

_____ 15. Stay in and focus on the present (not the past or future, e.g. by enjoying experience sensations and people, enjoying doing things and enjoying my life).                         

Total Friedman Life Balance Score

_____ 16. Evolve positively on my spiritual journey

_____ 17. Feel grateful to a higher power, force or God                                                                       

Circle the 5 Items That You Find Most Valuable, Beneficial and Useful.   

 

_____

_____

_____ 
_____ 

_____

Scoring Key

Add up the 5 numbers for each of the 3 main subscales and put the sum of those sections next to the blank line at the end of each subscale section.
1. Reflect, Clarify, Sort (questions 1 – 5)
2. Understand Self and Others (questions 6 – 10)
3. Self-Forgive, Compassion, Love (Questions 11 – 15)
4. Add the total of the first 3 subscales to get the Total Friedman Life Balance Score and put the number on the blank line next to it.
5. Add the total of Questions 16 and 17 for the Spirituality subscale and place the number on the blank line.

Permission is granted to use the scales free of charge for all non-commercial use provided that they are reproduced exactly as written here, without changing any words and without leaving out any subscales or questions. If used in a foreign language the translation needs to be approved by the author, Philip H. Friedman, Ph.D or if he is not available the Foundation for Well-Being. Please feel free to use them for research and clinical/psychotherapy situations.

Key References:

Friedman, P.  (2018) Life Balance, Emotional Stability, Well-Being and Spiritual Awakening. International Journal of Healing and Caring, Volume 18, Dec. 14, 2018, No. 1, 1-22

https://www.ijhc.org/life-balance-emotional-stability-well-being-and-spiritual-awakening

Life Balance, Emotional Stability, Well-Being and Spiritual Awakening-Part 2: Shorter Scales and An Evidence Based Approach to Change in Psychotherapy

By Philip H. Friedman, Ph.D.

International Journal of Healing and Caring 2020, 20(1), 1-29, January, 2020 Volume 20, No. 1.

https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/891f98f6/files/uploaded/Friedman-20-1.pdf

Friedman, P. (2021) Digital Assessment and Tracking, Life Balance, Emotional Stability, Well- Being, Spiritual Awakening, Anxiety and Depression: A Practice-Based Evidence Approach to Change in Psychotherapy 

International Journal of Healing and Caring (IJHC) August, 2021 Volume 21, No. 2, 6-3 

https://irp.cdn-website.com/891f98f6/files/uploaded/4%20Friedman%2C%20P.%20Digital%20Assessment%20%2021-2%20Final.pdf

Means and Standard Deviations N = 563

FLBS TOTAL (Questions 1-15)FLBS Subscale 1FLBS Subscale 2FLBS Subscale 3SPIR. ITEMS
Means53.2718.1718.0817.036.91
Standard Deviations14.703.784.004.542.46

Reliability

Reliability Alphas: N = 563

FLBS Total (Questions 1 - 15)FLBS Subscale 1FLBS Subscale 2FLBS Subscale 3SPIR. ITEMS
Alpha0.930.860.860.860.84
N155552

The following graphs of change over time are taken from the journal article:
“Life Balance, Emotional Stability, Well-Being and Spiritual Awakening-Part 2: Shorter Scales and An Evidence Based Approach to Change in Psychotherapy.”  Click here to see the graphs.

Friedman Life Balance Scale Description and Interpretation of Scores:
Click here

The 3 Friedman Scales published in Jan. 2020 were developed with the excellent research collaboration of Jon Webb, Ph.D from Texas Tech University and Loren Toussaint, Ph. D of Luther College in Iowa. The author is greatly appreciative of their help and cooperation.