Development and validation of a resilience scale for community-dwelling older adults: A methodological study

PURPOSE: Resilience allows older adults to view adversity as an opportunity for growth, making it a key resource for successful aging. This study aimed to develop and validate a multidimensional resilience scale reflecting the characteristics and experiences of community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: Preliminary items were generated through a literature review and interviews with eight older adults. Content validity was evaluated by an expert panel, and 510 community-dwelling older adults were recruited using stratified age-group sampling. Construct validity was examined through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, while convergent and discriminant validity were also assessed. Concurrent validity was tested against the short form-12 health survey (SF-12) instrument, and Cronbach's alpha was calculated to determine internal consistency. RESULTS: Two items with item-level content validation index values below .80 were removed. Exploratory factor analysis of the resulting eight-item scale identified two factors ("positive growth and overcoming" and "daily adaptation and self-regulation"), explaining 54.92% of the variance. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated good model fit. Convergent validity and concurrent validity with the SF-12 were supported, while discriminant validity was not. CONCLUSION: The eight-item, two-factor resilience scale demonstrated acceptable validity and reliability, offering a brief and practical tool for rapid assessment of resilience in community-dwelling older adults. Further research across diverse populations is recommended to enhance its utility in evaluating health promotion programs and strategies for successful aging.