Citation: Johnson, Douglas C, Polusny, Melissa A, Erbes, Christopher R, King, Daniel, King, Lynda, Litz, Brett T, . . . Southwick, Steven M. (2011). Development and initial validation of the Response to Stressful Experiences Scale. Military Medicine, 176(2), 161-169.
PMID or DOI: PMID: 21366078, DOI: 10.7205/milmed-d-10-00258
Main positive psychological well-being construct measured: Resilience
Sub-constructs measured: Meaning-making and restoration, active coping, cognitive flexibility, spirituality, and self-efficacy
Available subscales: N/A
Description: The Response to Stressful Experiences scale was developed as a measure of individual differences in cognitive, emotional and behavioral responses to stressful life events, initially validated within military and veteran populations. The scale focuses on how an individual typically responds during and immediately after stressful events, focusing on internal personal characteristics. Factor analyses of the initial survey confirmed a five-factor substructure including meaning-making and restoration, active coping, cognitive flexibility, spirituality, and self-efficacy; however, these are not intended to be standalone subscales.
Number of items: 22
Example statement/item: “During and after life’s most stressful events, I tend to… take action to fix things”
Response options: 5-point scale with responses ranging from 0=not at all like me to 4=exactly like me
Total score: Total sum scores across items are calculated.
Abbreviated version:
RSES-4: De La Rosa, G. M., Webb-Murphy, J. A., & Johnston, S. L. (2016). Development and validation of a brief measure of psychological resilience: an adaptation of the Response to Stressful Experiences Scale. Military medicine, 181(3), 202-208.