Resilience Assessment
Resilience Traits Test
Informed by Resilience Scale Research
How well do you handle adversity? This 14-question assessment measures five core traits of resilience: perseverance, equanimity, purpose, self-reliance, and authenticity. Informed by the foundational research of Gail Wagnild and Heather Young.
How we built this · Licensing infoBefore you start
You'll see 14 statements about how you typically think and feel. For each one, rate how much you agree on a scale from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 7 (Strongly Agree). There are no right or wrong answers. Respond based on what feels true for you right now.
Your resilience profile
How you scored across the five core resilience traits measured in this assessment.
Want a different perspective on resilience? Try our Personal Resilience Scale (22 items, clinical focus) or the Brief Resilience Scale (6 items, quick check).
The science behind this assessment
Grounded in 30+ years of resilience research across cultures and age groups.
From the Research
"Resilience connotes inner strength, competence, optimism, flexibility, and the ability to cope effectively when faced with adversity."
— Wagnild, G. M. (2009). A Review of the Resilience Scale. Journal of Nursing Measurement, 17(2), 105–113.
What the research shows
- The Resilience Scale was first published in 1993, making it one of the earliest validated measures of adult resilience. Over 3 million people have taken some version of it.
- Internal consistency is strong: Cronbach's alpha ranges from .72 to .94 across 12 studies reviewed by Wagnild herself.
- The 14-item short form (RS-14) correlates at r = 0.97 with the full 25-item version, meaning it captures nearly the same information in about half the time.
- Higher resilience scores are linked to greater life satisfaction and lower levels of depression, anxiety, and hopelessness across multiple studies.
Sources: Wagnild & Young (1993); Wagnild (2009); Abiola & Udofia (2011); Cajada et al. (2023).
Wagnild and Young identified five core characteristics that resilient people share. These form the foundation of the Resilience Scale and shape every question in this assessment.
"The five characteristics of resilience, which serve as the conceptual foundation for the Resilience Scale, are perseverance, equanimity, meaningfulness, self-reliance, and existential aloneness."
— Wagnild, G. M. & Young, H. M. (1993). Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Resilience Scale. Journal of Nursing Measurement, 1(2), 165–178.
Why this is an adaptation
The original Resilience Scale items are copyrighted and trademarked by The Resilience Center. A licensing agreement is required to use them. We wrote all 14 items in our own words, based on the five core resilience traits identified by Wagnild and Young in their published research.
How we built this version
- We studied the five-factor framework from the original 1993 paper and Wagnild's 2009 review, which together describe the traits each item should capture.
- We referenced the Brief Resilience Scale (Smith et al., 2008) for how "bounce-back" ability can be phrased, and the Ego-Resiliency Scale (Block & Kremen, 1996) for adaptability concepts.
- Every item was written to target a single resilience facet, using clear everyday language at roughly a 6th-grade reading level, matching the original scale's accessibility.
- Scoring thresholds were mapped proportionally from Wagnild's published 25-item cut-offs (2009): scores above 145 = high, 125–145 = moderate, 120 or below = low.
What we acknowledge
This adapted version has not been independently validated through formal psychometric testing. We expect similar reliability to the original (Cronbach's alpha of .85 or above), but we cannot confirm this until we analyze response data. The scores here are best treated as a guided self-reflection, not a clinical measurement.
Sources: Wagnild & Young (1993); Wagnild (2009); Abiola & Udofia (2011); Block & Kremen (1996); Smith et al. (2008); Windle, Bennett & Noyes (2011).
We have three resilience assessments on this site. Each measures resilience differently.
| Feature | This Test | CD-RISC | BRS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Items | 14 | 25 | 6 |
| Time | ~5 min | ~8 min | ~2 min |
| Focus | Trait resilience across 5 facets | Coping, hardiness, adaptability | Bounce-back ability |
| Scale | 7-point Likert | 5-point Likert | 5-point Likert |
| Origin | Coached (informed by Wagnild & Young, 1993) | Connor & Davidson, 2003 | Smith et al., 2008 |
| Best for | Deep personal insight | Clinical / post-trauma contexts | Quick resilience check |
Take the Personal Resilience Scale → Take the Brief Resilience Scale →
Understanding resilience scores
Score ranges are based on the cut-offs published by Wagnild (2009), mapped proportionally from the original 25-item scale (range 25–175) to our 14-item version (range 14–98).
Fewer resilience characteristics than most. May find it harder to recover from stress. This range corresponds to ≤120 on the original 25-item scale.
Some coping strengths with room to grow. Most people fall in this range. Corresponds to 125–145 on the original scale.
Strong inner resources: perseverance, optimism, and self-trust. Corresponds to >145 on the original scale.
These ranges are relative, not diagnostic. There is no clinical threshold for "low resilience." A lower score often reflects circumstance or a period of difficulty, not a permanent trait. Research shows resilience can be developed through deliberate practice.
Frequently asked questions
No. The Resilience Scale (RS-25) and its 14-item short form (RS-14) are copyrighted and trademarked instruments published by The Resilience Center. They require a licensing agreement for any use. Our Resilience Traits Test is an independently written assessment that measures the same five traits identified in Wagnild and Young's published research — perseverance, equanimity, purpose, self-reliance, and authenticity — but our items, wording, and scoring are original.
The Wagnild-Young RS focuses on trait resilience across five dimensions. The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) emphasizes hardiness and coping in clinical populations. The Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) by Smith et al. measures bounce-back ability with just 6 items. Our test draws on the same five-trait framework as the RS but with original items. We also offer a Personal Resilience Scale and a Brief Resilience Scale on this site.
Wagnild and Young (1993) identified five core characteristics of resilient people: Perseverance (continuing forward despite obstacles), Equanimity (maintaining balanced perspective under stress), Meaningfulness (feeling life has purpose), Self-Reliance (trusting your own abilities), and Existential Aloneness (comfort being yourself, even alone). Our assessment uses our own labels for the last two — "Purpose" and "Authenticity" — but the underlying constructs are the same.
About this resilience assessment
This tool is for self-reflection and learning. It is not a clinical instrument.
This assessment is inspired by the Resilience Scale developed by Gail Wagnild and Heather Young (1993). All 14 items were written in our own words, targeting the same five resilience traits described in their published research. Scoring bands are mapped proportionally from cut-offs published in Wagnild's 2009 review. This is not the official Resilience Scale instrument.
This tool measures trait resilience: patterns of inner strength, persistence, and balanced thinking. It does not diagnose any condition, predict specific outcomes, or replace professional evaluation. A low score does not mean something is wrong with you. If you are struggling, please consider reaching out to a mental health professional.
The Resilience Scale is a trademark of Gail M. Wagnild and Heather M. Young. The official instrument requires a licensing agreement from The Resilience Center. Our items and scoring method are original work. We are not affiliated with The Resilience Center.