Development and Use of the Resilience Scale (RS) with Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Abstract

Until the late 1980s, the study of resilience was relatively new with most research focusing on children (Rutter, 1985, 1987; Werner, 1984, 1990). Much of "health" related research used models grounded in pathology, which emphasized identifying and diagnosing problems and developing approaches to cure or treat problems. In the last 20 years, a more positive approach to health has been taken, with a greater emphasis on recognizing capabilities and building on a foundation of strength. Because "resilience" connotes the ability to cope effectively and adapt successfully when faced with adversity, it became a useful, popular, and perhaps novel way of viewing adaptation to stress. It was from this paradigm shift that the Resilience ScaleTM (RS) was developed. The Resilience Scale was created in 1987 and initial psychometric analysis was conducted in two early studies in 1989 and 1990. Since then, it has been used woridwide and translated into at least 36 languages. In the last 4 years alone, there have been more than 5,000 requests to use the RS for a variety of purposes including research, employment assistance programs, clinical assessment, education, and continuing education conferences and workshops. The RS has been used with a variety of populations including youth, young and middle-aged adults, and elders. In this chapter, a review of the development and early psychometric analysis of the RS is presented followed by resilience research with specific adult populations. Although the RS has been used extensively in youth and young adults, the focus of this chapter will be on middle-aged and older adults. This is followed by a brief overview of how the RS can be used as an assessment tool in clinical settings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)