Relational Engagement of the Sacred for a Transgression (REST)

Abstract

The Relational Engagement of the Sacred for a Transgression (REST) scale, developed by Davis et al. in 2010, is a brief, focused psychological scale designed to quantify how individuals utilize religious or spiritual resources—often referred to as sacred engagement—to manage and cope with an interpersonal transgression. This four-item instrument specifically assesses the effort to apply theological principles (such as viewing the offender as a “child of God”) and engaging in spiritual practices (like prayer) directed toward the transgressor, thereby facilitating the process of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Keywords

Forgiveness, Religious coping, Sacred engagement, Interpersonal transgression, Psychological assessment, Relational conflict, Reconciliation, Spiritual practices.

Authors

Davis, D. E., Hook, J. N., Worthington, E. L., Jr., Van Tongeren, D. R., Gartner, A. L., Jennings, D. J. II, & Norton, L.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the REST scale is to provide a concise and reliable measure of a specific mechanism within the broader psychology of religion and forgiveness literature. It addresses the need to isolate the active, relational component of religious coping following an offense, distinguishing it from general religiosity or spiritual well-being.

By measuring the degree to which an individual actively integrates their faith into their response to an offender, the instrument allows researchers to explore the efficacy of religiously mediated strategies, such as prayer for the transgressor or theological reframing, in achieving emotional and decisional forgiveness.

Construct

The REST scale measures the construct of Relational Engagement of the Sacred for a Transgression. This construct reflects the cognitive and behavioral effort to incorporate sacred or theological meaning into the relationship dynamic following a perceived injury. Key components of this engagement include:

• Theological Reframing: Actively viewing the offender through a religious lens (e.g., as a person deserving of divine love or respect).
• Sacred Practice: Utilizing spiritual disciplines, primarily prayer, specifically directed toward the well-being or positive change of the offender.
• Relational Intent: Believing that sacred authority mandates the repair or maintenance of interpersonal relationships, even after a transgression.

Validity

Initial validation studies conducted by the authors demonstrated strong evidence for the validity of the REST scale. The items were developed to ensure high content validity, aligning closely with established models of religiously facilitated forgiveness interventions. Furthermore, studies established construct validity by demonstrating expected correlations with related measures.

The scale typically exhibits positive correlations with measures of empathy, religious commitment, and positive spiritual outcomes, while showing inverse correlations with indicators of hostility, avoidance, and unforgiveness. This pattern confirms that the REST scale effectively measures a constructive, religiously mediated coping strategy.

Reliability

The REST scale has demonstrated high internal consistency across various research samples. Due to its focused, unidimensional nature, studies frequently report a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient ranging from 0.80 to 0.90, indicating excellent reliability. This suggests that the four items are highly cohesive and measure the same underlying construct effectively.

While less frequently reported than internal consistency, test-retest reliability is generally considered acceptable, indicating stability in an individual’s use of sacred engagement strategies when dealing with a specific, enduring relational conflict.

Factor Analysis

Factor analytical procedures, including both Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), consistently support the structure of the REST scale. The analyses confirm that the measure is unidimensional, meaning all four items load strongly onto a single, latent factor: the relational engagement of the sacred.

This single-factor structure simplifies interpretation, confirming that the scale is solely focused on the active, religiously-based effort to address the relationship in the aftermath of an offense, rather than measuring multiple aspects of religious coping or general spirituality.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report psychological inventory

Format: 4 items scored on a 6-point Likert scale.

Language Available: English (Primary validation).

Population Group: Adults experiencing interpersonal transgression or relational conflict.

Age Group: 18 years and older (Adults).

Population Details: Primarily used with samples identifying with organized religion, particularly those where concepts such as prayer and the divinity of others are central to their faith (e.g., Christian populations).

Test Methodology: Respondents rate their level of agreement regarding specific cognitive and behavioral efforts made toward the transgressor following a defined offense.

Keywords

Psychometrics, Unidimensional scale, Likert scale, Interpersonal relationships, Spiritual practices, Prayer, Religious psychology, Offense resolution.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not specified in source material; researchers should consult current academic databases for D. E. Davis and J. N. Hook.

Affiliation Email addresses: Contact corresponding author for current affiliation and email (likely associated with George Fox University or Virginia Commonwealth University at the time of publication).

Correspondence Address: Refer to the institutional address listed in subsequent publications by the primary author, D. E. Davis.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The REST scale was developed in 2010. As a measure published in an academic manuscript, it is typically available for non-commercial research and educational use without a direct fee. Users are strongly advised to contact the primary author, D. E. Davis, to obtain formal permission and ensure proper citation protocols are followed for research use.

Reference’s

The full instrument, scoring details, and initial validation information were presented in manuscript form in 2010. The original PDF describing the scale can be downloaded here: http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1092&context=psyd.

• Davis, D. E., Hook, J. N., Worthington, E. L., Jr., Van Tongeren, D. R., Gartner, A. L., Jennings, D. J. II, & Norton, L. (2010). Development of the relational engagement of the sacred for a transgression (REST) scale. Manuscript submitted for publication.
• Vasiliauskas, Sarah L. (2010). The Effects of a Prayer Intervention on the Process of Forgiveness. George Fox University. Doctoral Dissertation.

Items of the Relational Engagement of the Sacred for a Transgression (REST)

Response Format: 1 = completely disagree, to 6 = completely agree

1. I tried to view him/her as a child of God.
2. I asked God to help me see his/her good points.
3. I tried to pray for him/her.
4. I believe God wants us to mend our relationships