Development of a multi-dimensional measure of resilience in adolescents: the Adolescent Resilience Questionnaire

Abstract

BackgroundThe concept of resilience has captured the imagination of researchers and policy makers over the past two decades. However, despite the ever growing body of resilience research, there is a paucity of relevant, comprehensive measurement tools. In this article, the development of a theoretically based, comprehensive multi-dimensional measure of resilience in adolescents is described.MethodsExtensive literature review and focus groups with young people living with chronic illness informed the conceptual development of scales and items. Two sequential rounds of factor and scale analyses were undertaken to revise the conceptually developed scales using data collected from young people living with a chronic illness and a general population sample.ResultsThe revised Adolescent Resilience Questionnaire comprises 93 items and 12 scales measuring resilience factors in the domains of self, family, peer, school and community. All scales have acceptable alpha coefficients. Revised scales closely reflect conceptually developed scales.ConclusionsIt is proposed that, with further psychometric testing, this new measure of resilience will provide researchers and clinicians with a comprehensive and developmentally appropriate instrument to measure a young person's capacity to achieve positive outcomes despite life stressors.

Characteristics and components of children’s and adolescents’ resilience in disasters in Iran: a qualitative study

“…These children are sensitive and worry about others being harmed (Clarken, 2009). High levels of empathy and tolerance influence the resilience of most young people, and empower them to communicate better with their own circle, other people, and society, despite their differences (Gartland, Bond, Olsson, Buzwell, & Sawyer, 2011). In line with the findings of the present study, children are often the first to help others and these efforts not only help them to meet their psychological needs, but also reduce their vulnerability to accidents and disasters, according to experts.…”

Qualidade de vida e resiliência em estudantes do ensino médio: um estudo epidemiológico na cidade de São Paulo

“…São eles: aspectos pessoais (emocionais, cognitivos, valorativos, autoimagem, autoestima), familiares (parental, fraternal e referencial) e da comunidade (ambiente, escolas, oferta de lazer e instituições que frequenta). Cada um deles age de forma peculiar, contribuindo ou dificultando a manifestação da resiliência (Gartland, Bond, Olsson, Buzwell, & Sawyer, 2011;Libório & Ungar, 2010).…”

“…Muitos autores que estudaram resiliência e adolescência (Ali et al, 2010;Gartland et al, 2011) relatam a ausência de pesquisas que identifiquem quais as características e condições que contribuem para um adolescente ser resiliente ou ter atitudes assertivas para a saúde e para a vida enquanto outro adolescente se colocar frequentemente em riscos psicossociais, ameaçando sua integridade física e sua saúde. Para os mesmos autores, os adolescentes resilientes, além de serem menos vulneráveis a riscos, conquistam adaptações mais bem sucedidas e desenvolvem mais competências quando comparados aos adolescentes de maneira geral, mesmo expostos a situações de stress e adversidades.…”

A review of quantitative studies of South African youth resilience: Some gaps

“…10 Moreover, despite current consensus that resilience is a transaction between an individual and his/her social ecology, most resilience measures do not mirror this view. 18,24,28 Gartland et al 17 and Tol et al 22 note that many resilience measures have a limited focus and scope because they address individual characteristics and not the dynamic socioecological transaction.…”