Scale AnaResilience Scale for Adults [RSA]

Description

The Resilience Scale for Adults [RSA] is a self-report instrument developed by Friborg, Hjemdal, Rosenvinge, and Martinussen to assess the protective resources that contribute to adult resilience and healthy adaptation to adversity.

Purpose

The RSA evaluates several personal and interpersonal protective factors, including:

  • personal competence,
  • social competence,
  • family coherence,
  • social support,
  • personal structure.

Scoring

Items are rated using a structured response format, and scores can be calculated for the different resilience dimensions. Higher scores generally indicate stronger protective resources and greater resilience.

Different versions of the RSA have appeared in the literature; therefore, the exact number of items and scoring procedure should follow the specific version being administered.

Applications

The RSA can be used in general, clinical, and health-related populations to investigate psychological resilience, protective factors, coping with adversity, and mental health. Validation research has supported its reliability, construct validity, and ability to differentiate between clinical and healthy populations.

References

Friborg, O., Hjemdal, O., Rosenvinge, J. H., & Martinussen, M. (2003). A new rating scale for adult resilience: What are the central protective resources behind healthy adjustment? International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 12(2), 65–76. https://doi.org/10.1002/mpr.143

Friborg, O., Barlaug, D., Martinussen, M., Rosenvinge, J. H., & Hjemdal, O. (2005). Resilience in relation to personality and intelligence. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 14(1), 29–42.