Assessing Resilience in the 45 and Up Study: Validation of the Prospective Resilience Scale (PRS).

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluates the psychometric properties of the Prospective Resilience Scale (PRS).

METHODS

Participants (n = 24,706), aged 56-100+ years, (mean age 69.8 ± 7.0) from the 45 and Up Study completed the PRS. The dataset was randomly split into an exploration sample (n = 12,303) for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and a validation sample (n = 12,403) for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), reliability, and construct validity testing.

RESULTS

EFA supported a single-factor framework retaining 9 of 10 items (32.09% variance explained). CFA for the 9-item validation sample (mean PRS = 29.2, SD = 5.1, range = 9-45), demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Validation Sample: Cronbach's α = .75, McDonald's ω = .74) and construct validity. The model showed partial fit (SRMR = .044, RMSEA = .075, CFI = .894, TLI = .859). Correlations with health indicators ranged from small (chronic illness, disability; r = -.14) to very large (quality of life, r = .47; psychological distress, r = -.42).

CONCLUSION

This novel PRS had acceptable psychometric properties utilizing standardized prospective scenarios to minimize measurement variability from different recent events.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The PRS has potential for population health monitoring to track resilience at scale and inform policies and programs to promote healthy aging.