Vol. 17 No. 1 (2013): Journal of Nursing Pensar Enfermagem
Original Articles

The resilience factors scale of Takviriyanun: Psychometric properties of the Portuguese version

José Vilelas
RN, MSc, PhD, Professor Coordenador, Escola Superior de Saúde da Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa
Isabel Lucas
RN, MSc, Professora Adjunta, Escola Superior de Saúde da Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa
Isabel Santos Silva
RN, MSc, Professora Adjunta, Escola Superior de Saúde da Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa
Ana Paula Nunes
RN, MSc, Professora Adjunta, Escola Superior de Saúde da Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa
Isabel Castanheira das Neves
RN, MSc, Professora Adjunta, Escola Superior de Saúde da Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa

Published 2013-07-03

Keywords

  • validation,
  • scale,
  • resilience,
  • protective factors,
  • young adults

How to Cite

Vilelas, J., Lucas, I., Santos Silva, I., Nunes, A. P., & Castanheira das Neves, I. (2013). The resilience factors scale of Takviriyanun: Psychometric properties of the Portuguese version. Pensar Enfermagem, 17(1), 2–16. https://doi.org/10.56732/pensarenf.v17i1.74

Abstract

Introduction: Most authors argues that resilience is effective in dealing with adversity and promoting mental health with a special focus on an emotional level. The increase of interest in the concept of resilience emphasizes the need to develop assessment tools appropriate to this construct. In Portugal, there are few scales through which to assess the resilience factors in young adults. From this perspective, in order to extend the scope of the studies on resilience and consolidate the results on the subject, it is important to use valid and reliable measuring instruments, which are quick to apply and interpret.

Objective: This study aimed to validate the Scale “The Resilience Factors Scale” (RFS) of Takviriyanun (2008), for the Portuguese population.

Participants and Methods: The scale was translated and culturally adapted into Portuguese and applied to a sample of 188 students of the Bachelor of Nursing School of Health of the Portuguese Red Cross. This scale was tested for adequacy, comprehension, face validity and the contents were assessed according to psychometric properties, using Cronbach’s coefficient alpha (α) and factor analysis: exploratory and confirmatory.

Results: Participants had a mean age of 22 years, and 81.8% were female. During school time, they stayed in their usual residence (90.4%), and in an urban environment (89.8%). The 27 items of the scale, after using the exploratory factor analysis, were reduced
to 21, grouped into two subscales: problem-solving skills and social support skills, which had internal consistencies (α) = .75 and .74, respectively and a total variance explained in the range 52.2%. Through confirmatory factor analysis we tested that the model consisting of two factors was the one that had quality scores of adjustment that were acceptable.

Discussion and Conclusion: During the validation process a relationship between the structure of different items of the scale was found which does not coincide with the original model. Thus the items were grouped into two subscales. The scale factor of resilience in the version translated and adapted into Portuguese, proved easy to apply, with an internal consistency of .81, which helps explain the factors that influence individual and social resilience in young adults. The implications of these results suggest future studies.

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