Resilience Scale-25 Spanish version: Validation and assessment in eating disorders

• The Spanish adapted version of the Resilience Scale — 25 (RS-25) was validated.
• This is the first study that assesses resilience in eating disorders (ED).
• Resilience scores measured by the RS-25 are low in persons with an ED.
• ED persons score low on “personal competence” and “acceptance of self and life”.
• Persons recovered from an ED show similar resilience scores as the general population.

ObjectivesTo validate into Spanish the Wagnild and Young Resilience Scale — 25 (RS-25), assess and compare the scores on the scale among women from the general population, eating disorder (ED) patients and recovered ED patients.MethodThis is a cross-sectional study. ED participants were invited to participate by their respective therapists. The sample from the general population was gathered via an open online survey. Participants (N general population = 279; N ED patients = 124; and N recovered ED patients = 45) completed the RS-25, the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-BREF and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Mean age of participants ranged from 28.87 to 30.42 years old. Statistical analysis included a multi-group confirmatory factor analysis and ANOVA.ResultsThe two-factor model of the RS-25 produced excellent fit indexes. Measurement invariance across samples was generally supported. The ANOVA found statistically significant differences in the RS-25 mean scores between the ED patients (Mean = 103.13, SD = 31.32) and the recovered ED participants (Mean = 138.42, SD = 22.26) and between the ED patients and the general population participants (Mean = 136.63, SD = 19.56).DiscussionThe Spanish version of the RS-25 is a psychometrically sound measurement tool in samples of ED patients. Resilience is lower in people diagnosed with ED than in recovered individuals and the general population.