Positive Psychology Score Calculator
The PERMA model of wellbeing was developed by Dr. Martin Seligman, founder of Positive Psychology, at the University of Pennsylvania. It identifies five core pillars of flourishing: Positive Emotions (P), Engagement (E), Relationships (R), Meaning (M), and Accomplishment (A). Unlike measures of happiness alone, PERMA captures the full spectrum of what makes a life go well, including engagement in challenging activities and the pursuit of meaningful goals. Rate each item from 0 (Not at all) to 10 (Completely) to assess your PERMA profile.
Screening tool only. Not a clinical assessment.
P: Positive Emotions (0 = Not at all, 10 = Completely)
E: Engagement
R: Relationships
M: Meaning
A: Accomplishment
PERMA score formula
P Score = (PE1 + PE2) / 20 * 100
E Score = (EN1 + EN2) / 20 * 100
R Score = (RE1 + RE2) / 20 * 100
M Score = (ME1 + ME2) / 20 * 100
A Score = (AC1 + AC2) / 20 * 100
PERMA Total = (P + E + R + M + A) / 5
Each PERMA element is assessed with two items on a 0-10 scale (max 20). Scores are normalized to 0-100. The total is an unweighted average of all five elements, consistent with Seligman's PERMA model which treats all five pillars as equally important and independent contributors to flourishing.
Interpreting your PERMA score
- 75-100 (Flourishing): High wellbeing across most or all PERMA elements. Research suggests strong health and life outcomes at this level.
- 50-74 (Moderately Flourishing): Good overall wellbeing but some elements may need attention. Review your lowest subscale.
- Below 50 (Languishing): Significant wellbeing deficits. Consider which PERMA element is lowest and target evidence-based interventions there.
Positive psychology score calculator: frequently asked questions
What is the PERMA model of wellbeing?
The PERMA model was developed by Dr. Martin Seligman (University of Pennsylvania), the founder of Positive Psychology. PERMA is an acronym for five pillars of wellbeing: Positive Emotions (feeling good), Engagement (being absorbed in meaningful activities, flow), Relationships (having supportive connections), Meaning (belonging to and serving something greater), and Accomplishment (achieving goals for its own sake). The model is described in Seligman's book Flourish (2011) and is supported by extensive peer-reviewed research.
Is the PERMA model validated by research?
Yes. The PERMA-Profiler, developed by Margaret Kern at the University of Melbourne, is a validated 23-item questionnaire based on the PERMA model. Research has validated the PERMA model across cultures, age groups and clinical populations. The Positive Psychology Institute at the University of Pennsylvania and the VIA Institute on Character both reference PERMA as a foundational wellbeing framework.
What does a high PERMA score predict?
Research from the University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Center and the VIA Institute shows that higher PERMA scores are associated with better physical health, longer life expectancy, higher productivity, lower rates of depression and anxiety, stronger social relationships and greater subjective life satisfaction. These associations hold even after controlling for income, education and personality.
Can PERMA scores be improved through intervention?
Yes. Positive psychology interventions (PPIs) targeting PERMA elements have well-documented efficacy. Examples include gratitude journaling (Positive Emotions), identifying and using character strengths (Engagement and Meaning), acts of kindness (Relationships) and goal-setting programs (Accomplishment). Dr. Seligman's group at UPenn has published multiple randomized controlled trials on these interventions.
How is this different from a happiness or life satisfaction measure?
PERMA is broader than simple happiness (Positive Emotions) or life satisfaction. Engagement, Meaning and Accomplishment can be high even when immediate emotional experience is not pleasant, such as during a challenging but meaningful project. This makes PERMA a more comprehensive and durable measure of flourishing than simple hedonic happiness measures.
Official sources
- Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being. University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Center: ppc.sas.upenn.edu.
- Kern, M. L., et al. (2015). The PERMA-Profiler: A brief multidimensional measure of flourishing. International Journal of Wellbeing: IJOW doi:10.5502/ijw.v5i1.526.
- VIA Institute on Character: PERMA Theory of Well-Being.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 14 June 2026. See our methodology.