Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale
Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) · Also known as: CD-RISC, Connor-Davidson Scale, Resilience Scale
The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) is a 25-item self-report measure of psychological resilience—the capacity to cope with stress, adversity, and trauma while maintaining psychological functioning. Developed by Kathryn Connor and Jonathan Davidson in 2003, the CD-RISC operationalizes resilience as a multidimensional construct encompassing personal competence, trust in instincts, positive adaptation, and meaning-making. A brief 10-item version (CD-RISC-10) is also widely available. The scale has become standard in clinical research on trauma, anxiety, depression, and recovery from adversity.
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When to use it
The CD-RISC is appropriate for clinical assessment, research on trauma recovery and post-traumatic growth, evaluation of resilience-building interventions, and studies examining stress buffering factors. It is valuable in military psychology, disaster response, clinical outcome measurement, and longitudinal research tracking recovery trajectories. It is less suitable when measuring specific coping strategies; other measures address tactical coping approaches.
Strengths & limitations
- Comprehensive operationalization of psychological resilience with strong theoretical foundation
- Available in both full 25-item and brief 10-item versions with comparable psychometric properties
- Strong internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.84–0.89 for full scale) and stable factor structure
- Extensively validated in clinical and community samples with good cross-cultural equivalence; available in 20+ languages
- Predictive validity for recovery from trauma, depression, anxiety, and maintenance of well-being under stress
- Self-report bias: under stress or depression, individuals may minimize their resilience or present defensively
- Subscale structure is less robust than total score; some research treats it as unidimensional
- Does not measure specific coping strategies; captures general capacity rather than concrete skills
Frequently asked
Is resilience the same as not being affected by stress?
No. Resilient people do experience stress and emotional distress; resilience is the capacity to process that distress, adapt, and continue functioning. Stoicism or emotional numbness is not resilience. Resilient people acknowledge difficulty, seek support, and find meaning—not just tough it out.
Can resilience be developed in adults?
Yes. Longitudinal research shows resilience increases through supportive relationships, skills training (emotion regulation, problem-solving), meaning-making, and mastery experiences. Psychotherapy, mindfulness training, and community connection all strengthen resilience. Change typically requires time and effort but is achievable.
What is the difference between CD-RISC-25 and CD-RISC-10?
The full 25-item version comprehensively assesses resilience with potential subscale differentiation. The 10-item version captures overall resilience briefly, with comparable overall psychometric properties. Use the brief version for time-constrained settings or large surveys; use the full version for detailed assessment.
Does high resilience prevent mental health problems?
Not entirely. Resilience is a protective factor that reduces risk of developing disorders and promotes recovery, but high-resilience individuals can still develop depression, anxiety, or PTSD under severe stress. Resilience buffer risk but does not eliminate it. The CD-RISC measures capacity, not immunity.
How does resilience relate to trauma recovery?
Research shows that resilience at baseline predicts faster recovery from trauma and lower likelihood of chronic PTSD. Post-trauma, CD-RISC gains over time indicate improving psychological adjustment. Resilience supports recovery but does not replace trauma-focused therapy when PTSD is present.
Sources
- Connor, K. M., & Davidson, J. R. (2003). Development of a new resilience scale: The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Depression and Anxiety, 18(2), 76–82. DOI: 10.1002/da.10113 ↗
- Campbell-Sills, L., & Stein, M. B. (2007). Psychometric analysis and refinement of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC): Validation of a 10-item measure of resilience. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 20(6), 1019–1028. DOI: 10.1002/jts.20271 ↗
- Notario-Pacheco, B., Solera-Martínez, M., Serrano-Parra, M. D., Bartolomé-Gutiérrez, R., García-Campayo, J., & Martínez-Vizcaíno, V. (2014). Reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale in young adults. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 12(1), 165. DOI: 10.1037/t60477-000 ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/social-psychology/resilience-scale
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