Adaptation and validation of the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and the Positive Appraisal Style (PAS) Scale into Estonian and Russian on a representative Estonian sample

Abstract

Psychological resilience refers to the capacity to recover from stress. One proposed core mechanism enabling resilience is positive appraisal style – the tendency to view challenges constructively. Validated resilience measures for the Estonian population are currently lacking. This thesis reports the adaptation and validation of two instruments in Estonian and Russian: the 6-item Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and the 8-item Positive Appraisal Style questionnaire (PAS8).

A rigorous translation and cultural adaptation process was conducted using the back-translation method. The instruments were tested on a nationally representative sample (n = 1256) as part of the first wave of the Estonian National Mental Health Survey in 2023. Exploratory factor analysis (n = 663) was used to develop PAS8’s structure, identifying four theoretically grounded dimensions: optimism, coping efficacy, no-worries thinking, and silver-lining thinking.

Both the BRS and the PAS8 demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α > 0.8) and strong model fit in confirmatory factor analysis. While measurement invariance testing supported structural equivalence across versions, comparability of mean scores (scalar invariance) was primarily achieved for the Estonian versions. Validity was supported by expected correlations (r = 0.4 - 0.5) with mental health indicators, stress-buffering effects, and unique variance beyond demographics.

In conclusion, both scales are psychometrically adequate and suitable for resilience monitoring in Estonia. Future work should assess test–retest reliability and review item wording effects of the Russian BRS.