Development and Validation of Fantastic Reality Ability Measurement (FRAME) to Measure Use of Imagination in Response to Stress and Trauma

Fantastic reality ability (FRA) is defined as the capacity to use imagination in response to stress or trauma; it has been identified as an important concept in trauma-focused therapy. This manuscript presents the newly developed 21-item scale, Fantastic Reality Ability MEasurement (FRAME), based on responses from 502 Israeli adults. The development and initial psychometric validation of this scale is detailed. A four-factor solution was identified: Coping, Control, Transcendence, and Playfulness. Each factor contributes significantly to the measurement of a higher-order FRA latent construct. FRAME responses demonstrated high internal consistency (α =.88) and good test–retest reliability over 27 weeks (.60 < r >.80). We also report robust correlations between the FRAME and measures of ego-resiliency, playfulness, and fantasy proneness. The FRAME enables one to briefly measure imagination use in response to trauma and could serve as part of questionnaire batteries measuring individual differences and used in clinical research.