The Italian validation study of the resilience scale for adults (RSA)

Research on resilience showed its substantive role as buffer against mental differing but the difficulty to find a valid and reliable measurement instrument represents a limit for the improvement of the knowledge on this topic. In this study we examined the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA). RSA is a 33 item instrument devoted to measure six factors of resilience. Construct and criterion validity have been investigated. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the adequacy of the measurement model to the data showing good fit indexes, all factors but one (Structured Style) showed good reliability indexes. The correlations with life satisfaction, social connectedness, hopelessness and a general index of psychological distress confirmed the criterion validity. Results confirm the construct and criterion validity of the scale. Relations between RSA factors and some indicators of psychosocial well-being and distress are discussed. Suggestions for further validity studies of RSA on the Italian context and on clinical and social relevance of this multidimensional construct are posed.