Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Resilience Scale for Adolescents (READ)

Abstract

Psychometric evaluations of The Resilience Scale for Adolescents (READ) have yielded inconsistent support for the original five-factor solution, with different modifications being proposed. The aim of the present paper was to investigate the psychometric properties and factor structure of the READ using both confirmatory and exploratory methods, and to evaluate how the scale fits within the theoretical framework of resilience. Data stem from the population-based youth@hordaland-study of 9382 adolescents from 16-19 years of age.Using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the original five-factor model yielded relatively poor fit. A better model fit was identified for a different five factor structure using exploratory methods including two new personal factors measuring (1) goal orientation and (2) selfconfidence. This division was supported by low secondary loadings and moderate correlations between the factors, and gender differences in the mean scores. Although the READ is a multidimensional measure that includes individual, family and social factors related to the resilience process, some important aspects of resilience have not been included.

Life events and adolescent depressive symptoms: Protective factors associated with resilience

“…It could be argued that the importance of selfconfidence in explaining depressive symptoms could be because these two concepts are contrary to each other, that is, feeling competent and having a positive outlook despite hardship are quite opposite to depressive symptoms such as lack of energy, pessimism, and helplessness. Still, although self-confidence is negatively correlated with emotional problems, the correlation is moderate [30]. Further, previous research on the original READ factor of personal competence (which includes items measuring self-confidence) indicate that it can predict both depressive and social anxiety symptoms, and is not simply measuring the opposite of depression [21].…”

“…Higher scores on the READ indicate higher levels of the protective factors associated with resilience. The factor structure and psychometric properties of the READ has previously been tested in the sample from the youth@hordaland [30], suggesting that the items asses five factors: Goal Orientation, Self-Confidence, Social Competence, Social Support, and Family Cohesion. Four of the items in the original READ are not included in these factors (item 4, 9, 12 and 25).…”

“…Girls report moredepressive symptoms [4,6,8,28] and also experiencing more negative life events than boys [29]. Regarding protective factors related to resilience, studies suggest that girls have higher scores on social competence [27,[30][31][32], while boys have higher scores on self-confidence [27,[30][31][32] and self-esteem [33]. It is therefore important to investigate whether the influence of protective factors on the association between negative life events and symptoms of depression is gender specific.…”

Social capital, social support and perceived stress in college students: The role of resilience and life satisfaction

“…Whereas offline bonding predicted reduced perceived stress for women through resilience, for men it occurred through life satisfaction. Gender differences in resilience have been found (Askeland et al, 2019) and it has also been shown that the gender moderates the relationship between resilience, perceived social support and psychological distress (Zhang et al, 2018). Kafetsios (2007) has shown support satisfaction to predict well‐being in young males, whereas interaction with acquaintances predicted decreased perceived stress in females.…”

“…Since levels of stress differ among genders, the protective effect of resilience against stress has also been found to differ across genders. Askeland, Hysing, Sivertsen, and Breivik (2019) have found gender differences in resilience, with men scoring higher in all subscales of the Resilience Scale for Adolescents except the ‘social support’. Zhang et al (2018) found that gender moderated the relationship between resilience, perceived social support and psychological distress, as Chinese male college students primarily used resilience to cope with psychological distress, whereas females primarily used perceived social support.…”