The Egyptian Validation Study of the Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA) and its Utility in Predicting Depression

Mustafa A Khalaf,Taghreed T Al-Said

doi:10.2174/1874350102114010083

Abstract

Aims: The present study aims at validating the RSA and examining its incremental validity as a predictor of depression as measured by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Methods: 150 healthy participants completed the RSA, Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). After ensuring the psychometric properties of the RSA, SOC, and BDI, 220 Egyptian students were recruited from Minia University to fill in the RSA and BDI in order to assess the potential capacity of the RSA to predict depression. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the 5-factor structure model fitted well and the goodness of fit indices were within the acceptable limits. Construct validity was shown by a positive correlation between the RSA and the SOC, and a negative correlation with the BDI. The RSA and its subscales significantly predicted the BDI even when accounting for age and gender. Conclusion: The RSA is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring resilience in the Egyptian sample and it could be useful for measurement and intervention. The findings highlight the incremental validity of the RSA as a good predictor of depression.

Highlights

Resilience, as an adaptive psychological concept, is regarded as a multi-dimensional construct [1]
Authors of the original scale performed exploratory factor analysis so in the present study, Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was deemed satisfactory to confirm the factorial structure of the scale in the Egyptian context
The results of the analysis revealed that the fit indices of the 5-factor structure of the scale were within acceptable limits

Summary

Introduction

Resilience, as an adaptive psychological concept, is regarded as a multi-dimensional construct [1]. The lack of a unified methodology and poor concept definition is seen as a crucial challenge in the face of resilience research [2]. It refers to the ability to properly adapt to stressful life events using family, social and external support pathways [3]. “Resilience can be viewed as a defense mechanism, which enables people to thrive in the face of adversity” [2, 4]. Resilience studies are mainly concerned with those who can survive despite the presence of adversities without suffering from psychiatric difficulties.

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion