Reliability and Validity of the Multiple Sclerosis Resiliency Scale (MSRS)

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the internal reliability and construct validity of the Multiple Sclerosis Resiliency Scale (MSRS) in comparison with a common measure of global resilience.

Methods: Participants were 216 community-dwelling adults with MS (mean age: 48.8 ± 12.5 years; 77% female; median disease duration: 8 years) recruited through a university-affiliated MS Center. Participants completed the MSRS, 10-item Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CDRS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and depressive and anxious symptom items from the SymptoMScreen.

Results: The MSRS exhibited fair to excellent internal consistency (αs 0.74 to 0.91) and divergent validity with disability severity (r = -0.19), MS duration (r = 0.07), and MS subtype (r = -0.01). The MSRS total and Emotional and Cognitive Strategies subscale scores were moderately correlated with the CDRS (rs = 0.50 and 0.62), PSS (rs = -0.56 and - 0.62), depressive symptoms (rs = -0.49 and - 0.54), and anxious symptoms (rs = -0.38 and - 0.047). The MSRS total and Emotional and Cognitive Strategies subscale scores exhibited fair to good accuracy (AUCs = 0.73 to 0.83) for identifying participants in the highest and lowest CDRS quartiles; however, cutoff scores yielded only fair sensitivity and specificity, and the measures differed significantly in classification of participants into highest and lowest quartiles.

Conclusion: Although the MSRS may be useful in assessing resilience to MS-specific challenges, use of a global resilience measure may still be indicated depending on the clinical and research context.