Assessing Personal Resiliency in Young Adults: The Resiliency Scale for Children and Adolescents

Abstract

The Resiliency Scales for Children and Adolescents were developed to tap core underlying characteristics of personal resiliency in children and adolescents (RSCA; Prince-Embury, 2007). The theoretical and conceptual model underlying the original RSCA has been comprehensively described in Chap. 3 of this volume along with a summary of reliability and validity evidence accumulated thus far (Prince-Embury, 2012). Briefly, the original RSCA is a 64-item self-report questionnaire in which responses are given on a 5-point Likert rating scale. This chapter discusses the psychometric properties of two more recent versions of the RSCA that have been altered slightly for use with adults. RSCA-A is essentially the same as the RSCA with only two items altered to be more appropriate for adults. The RSCA-A-R includes eight additional items; four items were added to the Adaptability subscale and a four-item Meaning subscale was included. As with the original RSCA, items are divided into three global scales that are labeled Sense of Mastery, Sense of Relatedness, and Emotional Reactivity (Prince-Embury, 2007).