Adaptation and validation of the Polish version of the Stress-Related Growth Scale-Revised (SRGS-R-PL)

Posttraumatic growth refers to positive psychological changes following traumatic experiences. As research interest in posttraumatic growth increases, new tools for its measurement are being developed. However, concerns have been raised about the potential for illusory growth, which may inflate self-reported posttraumatic growth levels. To address this issue, the Stress-Related Growth Scale-Revised (SRGS-R) was created, using neutral item wording and a bipolar response scale to reduce response bias. This is the first time that the SRGS-R has been adapted and psychometrically validated outside its original English-language version.

The adaptation procedure followed international recommendations and the methodology of the original SRGS-R study. Data were collected online from 636 Polish adults aged 18-72 who had experienced at least one Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition-defined traumatic event, verified using the Life Events Checklist-5. Participants were randomly divided into two subsamples for exploratory (n = 309) and confirmatory (n = 327) factor analyses. In addition to the SRGS-R-PL, participants completed standardized Polish adaptations of instruments assessing posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, coping strategies, depressive symptoms, and well-being.

Factor analysis confirmed a unidimensional structure explaining 53.97% of the variance, with good model fit. The SRGS-R-PL demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .94) and theoretically consistent correlations with mental health measures and coping strategies.

The Polish version of the SRGS-R shows strong psychometric properties and validity, providing a reliable tool for assessing growth following stress or trauma. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).