Psychometric properties of the resiliency scales for children and adolescents and use for youth with psychiatric disorders. J Psychoeduc Assess

This study examines psychometric properties of the Resiliency Scales for Children and Adolescents (RSCA) in two clinical samples: one child sample (n = 110) and one adolescent sample (n = 178). The purpose of the study was to examine the distribution characteristics and internal consistency of RSCA scale, subscale, and index scores for youth who were diagnosed with various psychiatric disorders. This article expands on research reported in the RSCA technical manual, which examined small diagnostic groups by combining these groups when examination required larger samples. Findings suggest that the variability, apparent normal distribution, and good to excellent internal consistency of the RSCA global scale and index scores in these two clinical samples support their use to examine dimensions of normal development in clinical samples as well as in normative samples. Suggestions for future research are provided. Keywords Resiliency in clinical samples This article explores the psychometric properties of the Resiliency Scales for Children and Adolescents (RSCA) in two outpatient clinical samples: one child sample (n = 110) and one adolescent sample (n = 178). The RSCA were developed for the assessment of resiliency in nor-mative populations for the purpose of screening and preventive interventions for at-risk children and adolescents. Criterion validity evidence has been provided previously that the RSCA index, scale, and some subscale scores differentiate clinical samples from matched nonclinical control groups (see Prince-Embury, 2007, 2008, for details). In addition, concurrent evidence is provided by studies showing significant correlations in the predicted direction between RSCA index, scales, and subscales and other instruments assessing negative emotion (BYI-II; Beck, Beck, Jolly, &amp