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This study examines the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of Connor and Davidson's Resilience Scale (CD-RISC; 2003), an American instrument originating from a posttraumatic stress disorder research program. Confirmatory factor analysis of the Chinese data failed to verify the original 5-factor structure of CD-RISC obtained in the USA, while exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 3-factor structure of resilience (labeled respectively as Tenacity, Strength, and Optimism). The reliability coefficient of the Chinese version of CD-RISC was 0.91. The validity of CD-RISC was also satisfying in terms of the actual data matching the expected correlation between resilience measure and the variables of self-esteem, life satisfaction, and personality trait factors of NEO-FFI. It is concluded that the construct of resilience and its measurement from the West can be helpful and applicable in understanding Chinese adaptive behaviors, however, the understanding of the construct may also need some modification according to Chinese culture.
Keywords: resilience, factor structure, psychometric properties, culture, Chinese version of Connor and Davidson's Resilience Scale, tenacity, strength, optimism.
Decades of research on resilience have seen the emergence and development of positive psychology. Resilience has been used to represent the individual's capability of survival and adjustment after experiencing serious traumatic events. It has been defined as personal characteristics that could promote one's positive adaptation under stress and adversity (e.g., Wagnild, 2003). Tugade and Fredrickson (2004, p. 320) argued that "psychological resilience refers to effective coping and adaptation although faced with loss, hardship, or adversity". Along the lines of these conceptual frameworks, several psychological instruments have been developed to measure resilience (Block & Kreman, 1996; Wagnild & Young, 1993). These instruments have been proved to be reliable and valid in the West, and in turn have helped researchers further clarify the construct of resilience on the one hand, and on the other hand, have provided practical tools for practitioners to find ways of intervention to enhance the individual's resilience in the real-life environment (Bosworth & Earthman, 2002; Rak & Patterson, 1996; Yu & Zhang, 2005).
Among these instruments, a newly developed scale - Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC; Connor & Davidson, 2003), has earned much attention from researchers for its high sensitivity to overall improvement of patients suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after receiving psychological treatments....