Resilient Minds in a Pandemic Era: A Psychometric Study of The Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) in Iran

Background In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, assessing individuals' psychological resilience has become a critical priority for mental health professionals. The Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) is a widely used tool for evaluating adaptive coping mechanisms; however, its psychometric properties require validation across cultural contexts. This study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the Persian version of the BRCS among Iranian employees. Methods A total of 370 employees from 15 governmental organizations in Gorgan, Iran, participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed the BRCS and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). We used Cronbach’s alpha to measure internal consistency, and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA/CFA) for Construct validity. Criterion validity was examined using Spearman correlations with DASS-21 scores and fear of COVID-19. Results The BRCS demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.79). Factor analysis confirmed a unidimensional structure, explaining 63.77% of the variance. Model fit indices indicated excellent construct validity (CFI = 1.00, GFI = 0.999, AGFI = 0.995). The scale showed significant negative correlations with psychological distress (r = − 0.24, p  < 0.001) and fear of COVID-19 (r = − 0.21, p  < 0.001), supporting criterion-related validity. Conclusion The Persian version of the BRCS is a psychometrically sound instrument for assessing resilient coping in Iranian populations. Its brevity, internal coherence, and cross-cultural validity make it a valuable tool for clinical assessment and psychological research, particularly in high-stress or crisis situations.