Development and initial validation of the Response to Stressful Experiences Scale

Area of Science:

• Psychological Measurement
• Stress and Coping Research
• Military Mental Health

Background:

• Individual differences in responding to stressful life events are critical for mental health.
• Existing measures may not fully capture the multifaceted nature of stress responses.
• Validating a comprehensive scale is essential for research and clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Response to Stressful Experiences Scale (RSES).
• To assess cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses to stressful life events.
• To identify protective factors associated with resilience.

Main Methods:

• Development and validation of a 22-item scale (RSES).
• Utilized military and veteran samples (N = 1,014).
• Employed factor analysis and assessed internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and various forms of validity (convergent, discriminant, concurrent, incremental).

Main Results:

• The RSES demonstrated strong internal consistency (alpha = 0.91-0.93) and good test-retest reliability (r = 0.87).
• Factor analysis identified five protective factors: meaning-making/restoration, active coping, cognitive flexibility, spirituality, and self-efficacy.
• The RSES showed incremental validity in predicting posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms.

Conclusions:

• The RSES is a brief, reliable, and valid instrument for measuring individual differences in responses to stressful experiences.
• The scale identifies key protective factors that can inform interventions.
• The RSES is a valuable tool for research and clinical practice in diverse populations, particularly military personnel and veterans.