Scale Overview & Construct
6-item scale measuring regret and disappointment following a decision or life event, and the degree to which the outcome is attributed to personal choice versus uncontrollable circumstances.
Purpose & Measurement Objectives
Instrument Specifications
Academic Citation & Instrument Provenance
When referencing this instrument in research, academic theses, or clinical institutional audits, please cite the original author publication:
Governance, Boundaries & Ethical Use
Imported from the OpenScales open item-bank project. This specific digital implementation has not been independently clinically validated by PsiQ — scores are for self-reflection, research, and educational purposes only, and are not a diagnosis. The source instrument also includes a 7th forced-choice item ("Things would have gone better if...", choosing between a personal-choice or external-circumstance attribution) that is categorical rather than a magnitude rating — excluded here since it does not contribute to a summed severity score.
License: CC BY 4.0. Citation: Buchanan, J., Summerville, A., Lehmann, J., & Reb, J. (2016). The Regret Elements Scale: Distinguishing the affective and cognitive components of regret. Judgment and Decision Making, 11(3), 275-286 (companion Regret and Disappointment measure). This is not a diagnostic tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Regret and Disappointment Scale?
6-item scale measuring regret and disappointment following a decision or life event, and the degree to which the outcome is attributed to personal choice versus uncontrollable circumstances.
How long does the Regret and Disappointment Scale take?
It takes about 3 minutes to answer all 6 questions. You can go at your own pace.
Is this test free, and is it available in Hindi?
Yes, it is free with a PsiQ account. The questions and answer options are available in English, Hindi and Hinglish.
Can this test diagnose a condition?
No. Online self-report scales are for self-reflection, education and research, not diagnosis. If you are worried about your mental health, please speak to a qualified mental-health professional.