Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA)

Citation: Friborg, O., Hjemdal, O., Rosenvinge, J., & 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.

PMID or DOI: PMID: 12830300, DOI: 10.1002/mpr.143

Main positive psychological well-being construct measured: Resilience factors

Sub-constructs measured: Personal competence, social competence, personal structure, family coherence, and social support

Available subscales: Personal competence, social competence, personal structure, family coherence, and social support

Description: The Resilience Scale for Adults examines intrapersonal and interpersonal protective factors presumed to facilitate adaptation to psychosocial adversities, guided by a theoretical categorization of resilience that highlights personal/dispositional attributes, family support and external support systems. This version is updated from the preliminary version in 2001, expanding the number of items to cover the subdomains and including locus-of-control items. In subsequent developments, the first factor (personal competence) split into two intrapersonal oriented scales: perception of the self and planned future.

Number of items: 33

Example statement/item: “I believe in my own abilities” 

Response options: 7-point response scale

Total score: Mean scores within each subscale are calculated.