Mapping resilience: Analyses of measures and suggested uses in music therapy

Abstract

Resilience – which is a process and capacity for adaptation when experiencing adverse life circumstances or cumulative stress – seems to be a particularly relevant for music therapists. However, there are challenges when assessing resilience. We screened sources (N=307) and identified seven scales that provide a quantitative measure of the degree of resilience: Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM), Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA), Dispositional Resilience Scale (DRS), Resilience Scale (RS), Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA), Resilience Scale for Adolescents (READ). We reviewed each scale, identified salient psychometric properties, and drew conclusions about practical uses in music therapy (screening, profiling for intervention, and measuring effects of treatment). Music therapists strive to promote clients’ wellbeing and resilience measurement instruments may provide a way of screening, profiling for intervention, or establishing specific research protocols that target strength-based competencies. These measures, however, may only provide a snapshot of the total variables that may affect responses to treatment since adaptation is only relevant within the broad community systems in which each individual belongs.