Validity, reliability and responsiveness of the brief resilience scale (BRS) in individuals with rotator cuff related shoulder pain

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity, and responsiveness of the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) in a sample of adults with persistent rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP).

Material and methods: A total of 115 adults with persistent RCRSP participated in the study. All participants completed the BRS at baseline and again at 12 weeks to evaluate responsiveness. Of these, 92 completed the BRS 1-2 weeks after baseline to evaluate test-retest reliability. Additionally, construct validity was investigated through a-priori hypothesis testing, comparing the BRS with patient-reported outcome measures that assess various biopsychosocial constructs.

Results: The BRS is reliable (α = 0.83; Intraclass Correlation Coefficient =0.83; Standard Error of Measurement = 0.33 points; Minimal Detectable Change = 0.91 points) and valid, as all a-priori hypotheses were confirmed. Positive associations were found with measures of self-efficacy and social support, while negative associations were observed with pain intensity, perceived stress, catastrophizing, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, the estimated Area Under the Curve (AUC = 0.47) indicated insufficient responsiveness.

Conclusion: While the BRS demonstrated adequate reliability and construct validity in estimating resilience levels in individuals with persistent RCRSP, it lacks sufficient responsiveness in this population.

Keywords: Impingement; prospective study; psychological factor; psychometrics; questionnaires.