Aversion to risk is a prominent factor in transdiagnostic theories of emotional problems, and it is included as an element in the research domain criteria. There is a plethora of risk scales across different domains, but most of these have notable shortcomings or are not suited for use in mental health research. The present study describes the development of the Risk Orientation Scale. Content was drawn from previous risk scales and separate classifications of risk. The factor structure of the ROS was derived in a clinically relevant sample and confirmed in two other independent non-clinical samples. The final 15-item ROS was found to have an adequate three-factor structure across clinical, general population and undergraduate student samples. Total and subscale scores covaried in the predicted direction with measures of risk taking behavior, underlying orientation towards reward and punishment, and clinical anxiety-relevant measures that have been theoretically linked to risk. The findings on the ROS thus support the idea that aversion to risk is a process that underlies anxiety disorders. The ROS can provide a brief and valid measure of this in both clinical and non-clinical populations. As it provides risk orientation towards specific domains, it can potentially aid in guiding clinicians in targeting important underlying mechanism in the treatment of anxiety disorders.
Percentage and verbal category measures of risk likelihood
