The Resilience Scale for Adults
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This free Resilience for Adults Scale gives you accurate scores for five resilience dimensions. See exactly how you score for Personal Competence, Social Competence, Family Coherence, Social Support and Personal Structure. With this scientific assessment, read all there is to know about each dimension.
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Introduction to the RSA
Resilience, the ability to bounce back from adversity, is a critical factor in mental health and well-being. The Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA) is a widely used tool designed to measure this construct in adults. This article provides an overview of the RSA, including its development, structure, and applications.
"It is really wonderful how much resilience there is in human nature. Let any obstructing cause, no matter what, be removed in any way, even by death, and we fly back to first principles of hope and enjoyment."
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Understanding the RSA
Applications of the RSA
The RSA has been utilized in various research and clinical settings to understand and measure resilience. Its applications span across different populations, including individuals facing chronic illness, trauma, and stress (Hjemdal et al., 2006; Friborg et al., 2009). The scale has also been used to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions aimed at enhancing resilience.
Measured dimensions of the RSA
The Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA) is designed to assess various dimensions of resilience, each contributing uniquely to an individual’s capacity to withstand and recover from stress and adversity. The RSA consists of five subscales: Personal Competence, Social Competence, Family Coherence, Social Support, and Personal Structure. Each dimension provides valuable insights into different aspects of resilience.

Exploring Personal Competence: Self-Esteem, Self-Efficacy, and Optimism
Personal Competence refers to an individual’s self-perception regarding their abilities to handle challenges. This dimension encompasses attributes like self-esteem, self-efficacy, and optimism. High scores in Personal Competence suggest a strong belief in one’s own capabilities, a positive outlook on life, and the confidence to overcome obstacles. These qualities are crucial for personal resilience as they motivate individuals to face adversities head-on and persist through difficult times. Research has shown that individuals with high personal competence are more likely to engage in proactive coping strategies and exhibit lower levels of stress and anxiety (Friborg et al., 2003).

Exploring Social Competence: Assessing Social Skills
Social Competence measures an individual’s ability to interact effectively with others and build meaningful relationships. This dimension includes social skills, communication abilities, and the capacity to form and maintain social bonds. Socially competent individuals are adept at navigating social environments, which can provide essential support during challenging times. Strong social competence is associated with better mental health outcomes, as effective social interactions can lead to increased social support and reduced feelings of isolation. This dimension is particularly important in understanding how social dynamics contribute to overall resilience (Friborg et al., 2005).

Exploring Family Coherence: The Support and Strenght of the Family Environment
Family Coherence evaluates the strength and supportiveness of the family unit. This dimension assesses the extent to which family members provide emotional support, understanding, and cohesion. A supportive family environment is a critical factor in building resilience, especially during childhood and adolescence. High family coherence means that individuals can rely on their family for comfort and assistance in times of need, which enhances their ability to cope with stress and recover from adverse events. Studies have highlighted that strong family bonds are associated with better psychological adjustment and resilience (Friborg et al., 2009).

Exploring Social Support: Measuring Perceived Availability and Quality
Social Support measures the perceived availability and quality of support from friends and significant others. This dimension focuses on the external resources that individuals can draw upon during challenging times. High scores in Social Support indicate that individuals feel they have reliable and trustworthy people in their lives who can offer help, advice, and emotional support. The presence of strong social networks is a key protective factor in resilience, as it provides a buffer against stress and helps individuals navigate through difficulties. Social support has been consistently linked to improved mental health and well-being (Hjemdal et al., 2011).

Exploring Personal Structure: Assessing Planning, Organization, and Goal Orientation
Personal Structure assesses an individual’s capacity for organization, planning, and goal orientation. This dimension reflects the ability to create and maintain order in one’s life, set and pursue goals, and exhibit a structured approach to problem-solving. Individuals with high personal structure are likely to manage their time effectively, set realistic goals, and develop strategies to achieve them. This sense of order and purpose is crucial for resilience as it helps individuals stay focused and motivated even in the face of adversity. Research indicates that having a clear personal structure is associated with higher levels of psychological resilience and overall life satisfaction (Hjemdal et al., 2006).
Psychometric Properties of the RSA
The RSA has demonstrated strong psychometric properties. It has high internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the subscales ranging from 0.70 to 0.90 (Friborg et al., 2003). Test-retest reliability has also been reported to be satisfactory, indicating that the RSA produces stable results over time (Hjemdal et al., 2006). Furthermore, the scale’s construct validity has been supported through factor analysis and correlations with other measures of psychological well-being (Friborg et al., 2005).
Conclusion
The Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA) is a robust tool for measuring resilience in adults. Its comprehensive structure and strong psychometric properties make it suitable for a wide range of applications in research and clinical practice. As resilience continues to be a focal point in understanding mental health, the RSA remains an essential instrument for both assessment and intervention.
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Books about Resilience
If you are interested in gaining a more in-depth understanding of resilience and its dimensions, here we offer you a selection of the most relevant and valuable books that explore the subject and can aid you in your endeavour:
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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.
- 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.
- Friborg, O., Hjemdal, O., Rosenvinge, J. H., & Martinussen, M. (2009). Predictors of depression and anxiety in adolescence: a family and community perspective. Social Indicators Research, 87(3), 485-496.
- Hjemdal, O., Friborg, O., Stiles, T. C., Martinussen, M., & Rosenvinge, J. H. (2006). A new scale for adolescent resilience: Grasping the central protective resources behind healthy development. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 39(2), 84-96.
- Hjemdal, O., Vogel, P. A., Solem, S., Hagen, K., & Stiles, T. C. (2011). The relationship between resilience and levels of anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in adolescents. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 18(4), 314-321.