Pathways to Resilience III: Beyond Nature vs. Nurture

Resilience Measures for Adults:

Abstract #187
What is the Relation Between Resilience and Other Constructs of Positive Adaptation: And How Do They Relate To Adult Mental Health 
Presenter: Odin Hjemdal Co-presenter: Oddgeir Friborg
Abstract:
Background: This study aim was to explore the relation between resilience and other constructs related to healthy adaptation in adults. And further how these constructs are related to adult mental health prospectively. 
Method: 194 young adults were included in prospective study. The measures included were demographic data, negative life events, Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA), Life Satisfaction Scale, Rosenberg’s Self-esteem Scale, Dispositional Optimism Scale, Measure of Adult Attachement Qualities; MAQ. Data were collected two times over a period of three months.
Results: This study found that there are similarities among resilience (RSA) and the other constructs of healthy adaptation, however, the resilience explains unique variance in future mental health. 
Conclusions: Understanding how different constructs related to healthy adaptation are related and which are the most important in relation to future mental health is very important and may facilitate better prevention and interventions related to assuring future good health for adults in the future.

Abstract #105
Creating Capability-Based Measures for Adults – Challenges and First-Step Directions
Presenter: Martha Höfler  
Abstract: 
Introduction: Adult resilience is partly learning based and adults can display many capabilities which can be fostered to increase mental health. However, adults are considered less frequently in resilience research than children and youth and the science of adult education currently pays little attention to the resilience concept. 
Aim: The aim is to illustrate the current challenges of resilience research for a scientifically driven resilience promotion in adults, and to give first-step directions for successful measure creation.
Method: The method used is a narrative review which takes into account papers with relational resilience definition such as concept analysis, reviews, and primary empirical studies.
Results: Resilience factors are made up of a lot of determinants in their effect on desired outcome. Research that can be used for the scientifically based creation of measures is still problematic, particularly regarding comparisons between heterogeneous studies as well as too few publications of concept operationalizing features. Systematic reviews are necessary to gather differentiated information on validated factors that should be integrated in measures.  
Conclusion: There is a need for more fundamental systemizing studies that lead to a solidly based creation of capability-based measures in adults.

Abstract #75
A Social Ecological Measure for Adults: The RRC-ARM 
Presenter: Linda Liebenberg Co-presenters: Gökmen Arslan, Jeff Moore
Abstract:
Amidst a strong focus on the processes and resources that facilitate positive psychosocial outcomes for children and youth, there is increasing focus on resilience resources and processes as they pertain to adults. As is the case for child-centred resilience, researchers are increasingly focused on the social ecological resources that adults draw on in efforts to be happy and healthy. And, as with the field of child and youth resilience, valid and reliable measures relevant across cultures and contexts are in short supply. This presentation reviews the adaptation and validation of the 28-item Children and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM-28) for use with adult populations in Ireland and Turkey. Using data gathered from adults who have experienced institutional childhood abuse (Ireland) and who live in socioeconomically marginalised contexts (Turkey), Exploratory Factor Analyses (EFAs) identify five and four factors respectively, relating largely to family connectedness, civic and cultural connectedness, personal competencies and interpersonal connections. The four item factor structure (Turkish data) has been confirmed using a confirmatory factor analysis, and convergent validity to related measures has been established in both contexts. Despite the differing EFA results, these initial results support use of the Resilience Research Centre’s Adult Resilience Measure (RRC-ARM).