Resilience or hope? Incremental and convergent validity of the resilience scale for adults (RSA) and the Herth hope scale (HHS) in the prediction of anxiety and depression

Abstract

BackgroundHope and resilience protect against inner vulnerabilities or harsh life circumstances; they explain individual differences in physical or mental health outcomes under high stress. They have been studied in complementary or competing theoretical frameworks; therefore, the study of measures of hope and resilience should be undertaken prior to explore if they are truly value-added for research. This study investigates the convergent and incremental validity of the Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA) and the Herth Hope Scale (HHS), in the prediction of anxiety and depression (HSCL-25).MethodsParticipants in this community-based sample are 762 adults from 18 to 74 years old. They answered the RSA, HHS, Spanish Language Stressful Life-Events Checklist (SL-SLE), and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25). Incremental validity analyses combined hierarchical regression and structural equation models (SEM). First, hierarchical regression models were compared based on three criteria (R 2 Diff., ΔF, and semi-partial r), then the direct effect of resilience on affective symptoms was compared with the mediated effect of resilience on affective symptoms through hope.ResultsThe hierarchical models showed that (1) hope and resilience account significantly for the variance of affective symptoms above age, sex, and life-stress; (2) Resilience Total score has greater incremental validity than positive scales of HHS Hope; and (3) RSA Total score, HHS Optimism/Spiritual support, Stressful life-events and sex are unique predictors of affective symptoms. The SEM analyses verified a stronger direct effect of resilience in the prediction of affective symptoms above the significant partial mediated effect of resilience through hope. Additionally, results show that age and better educational opportunities were associated with protection (i.e. resilience and hope) and emotional well-being (i.e. affective symptoms and hopelessness). Women showed higher scores in social competences and resources (RSA), interconnectedness and initiative to take action (HHS). However, they have poorer evaluations of own abilities and efficacy (RSA), and higher scores in all the affective symptoms assessed.ConclusionThe RSA has incremental validity above the HHS, however, both the RSA and the HHS are effective, differentiated and complementary measures of protection that are of high relevance for research on psychosocial and emotional well-being.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s40359-017-0205-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The impact of resilience on anxiety and depression among grass-roots civil servants in China

“…The relationship between stress, depression, and anxiety supports compensatory and protective models of resilience. This is also consistent with the results of previous resilience model studies that the higher score of resilience, better able to resist the negative effect of stress, and the more positive the psychological health [ 6 , 28 , 51 ]. However, in the study of resilience in adolescents, resilience only regulating the relationship between stress and depression not between stress and anxiety [ 32 ].…”

“…That is to say, the hypothesis that resilience moderated the relationship between stress and depression and anxiety has been confirmed. Previous studies have also found that resilience can partially moderate stress and other psychological and emotional problems [ 6 , 28 ]. To some extent, resilience can relieve depression and anxiety caused or aggravated by stress.…”

“…It can be said that resilience is the ability of human beings to adapt in the face of sadness, adversity, and constant and significant stress in life [ 27 ]. Simply put, resilience can be regarded as a protective factor within individuals, which is of great significance to relieve pressure and promote mental health [ 28 , 29 ]. At present, there are mainly three models about resilience, which are: compensation model, protection model, and challenge model [ 30 , 31 ].…”

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“…R. Morote et al write in work [9] about RSA and about the Herth Hope Scale (HHS), she was designed as a multi-facet instrument. The HHS evaluates aspects of particularized hope (time-valued outcome) as well as a generalized sense of transcendence and meaning.…”

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“…Morote et al (Morote, Hjemdal, Krysinska, Martinez Uribe, & Corveleyn, 2017 ) found an important relationship between resilience and hope-mediated subjective emotional well-being using the HHI scale. Pleeging et al (Pleeging et al, 2019 ) highlighted the evaluation of the emotional component of hope when using the HHI scale, that is, the concept of hope as an experience and focus “aimed at gaining control over emotions rather than over external circumstances” (p. 2).…”