Devereux Adult Resilience Survey: An Introduction

Author: Mary Mackrain

Tool Type: Questionnaire / Survey

Content Type: Data Collection Tool

Contributor: Elizabeth DeKonty
Data Delay: Last Updated 2013
Languages: English, Spanish

DARS is a self-assessment tool adults can use to explore their internal strengths and wellbeing and develop an action plan to cope with stress.The questions are divided into four categories: relationships, internal beliefs, initiative, and self-control, each of which has various statements that prompt responses. It includes journaling sections, which lead individuals to celebrate their strengths and set goals and strategies to develop their individual areas for growth.

DARS could be used by individuals or staff to promote self-reflection and growth, as well as educators and those who work with young children. The survey results collected can be used to provide insight into the specific skills and abilities that contribute to resilience, which can be used to inform the development of resilience-building interventions for individuals, such as therapy or coaching. In addition, it can be used to compare levels of resilience across different populations, such as different age groups or demographic groups, which can provide insight into disparities and inform targeted interventions.

Notes from the Field: “We often use DARS to assess wellness for the purposes of building insight and informing coaching, but not as outcome measures.”