Skip to main content
Log in

The CYRM-12: A Brief Measure of Resilience

  • Quantitative Research
  • Published:
Canadian Journal of Public Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This article details the reduction of the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM) from a 28-item to a 12-item measure. The CYRM-28 is a measure of youth resilience that accounts for cultural and contextual diversity across youth populations. A reduced version of the CYRM is better suited to inclusion in omnibus surveys.

METHODS: Data from two samples of youth from Atlantic Canada are included in the analysis: a) a sample of multiple-service-using youth (n=122; mean age = 18); b) a school-based sample of youth (n=1494; mean age = 15).

RESULTS: Three iterations of an Exploratory Factor Analysis were conducted on data from the first sample of youth to identify items for inclusion in the CYRM-12. In the third analysis, a varimax rotated factor analysis of the 12 items resulted in a four-factor solution, with 10 of the items loading well. Reliability of this grouping of questions is satisfactory (α=0.754). Confirmatory factor analysis was then conducted on the second sample of youth. A satisfactory fit was obtained (χ2 (51, N=1540) = 255.419, p=0.0001; Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index = 0.960; Comparative Fit Index = 0.957; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.050). Cronbach’s Alpha for the 12 items was also satisfactory (α=0.840).

CONCLUSION: Results show sufficient content validity of the CYRM-12 to merit its use as a screener for resilience processes in the lives of adolescents.

Résumé

OBJECTIFS: Cet article traite de la réduction de l’indicateur CYRM (Child and Youth Resilience Measure) de 28 à 12 éléments. Le CYRM-28 est un indicateur de la résilience des jeunes qui tient compte de la diversité culturelle et contextuelle dans les populations de jeunes. La version réduite du CYRM est plus susceptible d’être incluse dans les enquêtes omnibus.

MÉTHODE: Notre analyse englobe les données de deux échantillons de jeunes du Canada atlantique: a) un échantillon de jeunes utilisant plusieurs services (n=122; âge moyen = 18 ans) et b) un échantillon de jeunes en milieu scolaire (n=1 494; âge moyen = 15 ans).

RÉSULTATS: Trois itérations d’une analyse factorielle exploratoire ont été menées sur les données du premier échantillon de jeunes afin de repérer les éléments à inclure dans le CYRM-12. La troisième, une analyse factorielle des 12 éléments avec rotation Varimax, a donné une solution à quatre facteurs avec 10 éléments se chargeant bien. La fiabilité de ce groupe de questions est satisfaisante (α=0,754). Nous avons ensuite mené une analyse factorielle confirmatoire sur le second échantillon de jeunes. Nous avons obtenu un ajustement satisfaisant (χ2 (51, N=1 540) = 255,419, p=0,0001; Indice de qualité de l’ajustement = 0,960; Indice comparatif d’ajustement = 0,957; Erreur moyenne quadratique d’approximation = 0,050). Le coefficient alpha de Cronbach pour les 12 éléments était également satisfaisant (α=0,840).

CONCLUSION: Les résultats font état d’une validité de contenu suffisante pour que le CYRM-12 soit utilisé comme « crible » des processus de résilience dans la vie des adolescents.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Armstrong MI, Birnie-Lefcovitch S, Ungar M. Pathways between social support, family well being, quality of parenting, and child resilience: What we know. J Child Fam Stud 2005;14(2):269–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Hanson T, Austin G. Student Health Risks, Resilience, and Academic Performance in California: Year 2 Report, Longitudinal Analyses. Los Alamitos, CA: WestEd, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Lerner RM, Dowling EM, Anderson, PM. Positive youth development: Thriving as the basis of personhood and civil society. Appl Dev Sci 2003;7(3):172–80.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ungar M. The social ecology of resilience: Addressing contextual and cultural ambiguity of a nascent construct. Am J Orthopsychiatry 2011;81(1):1–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Rutter M. Implication of resilience concepts for scientific understanding. In: Lester BM, Masten AS, McEwen B (Eds.), Resilience in Children. Boston, MA: Blackwell, 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Masten AS, Wright, MO. Resilience over the lifespan: Developmental perspectives on resistance, recovery, and transformation. In: Reich JW, Zautra AJ, Hall JS (Eds.), Handbook of Adult Resilience. New York, NY: Guilford, 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Ungar M. Resilience across cultures. Br J Soc Work 2008;38(2):218–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Fergus S, Zimmerman, MA. Adolescent resilience: A framework for understanding healthy development in the face of risk. Annu Rev Public Health 2005;26:399–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Werner EE, Smith, RS. Vulnerable but Invincible: A Longitudinal Study of Resilient Children and Youth. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Schoon I, Parsons S, Sacker A. Socioeconomic adversity, educational resilience, and subsequent levels of adult adaptation. J Adolesc Res 2004;19(4):383–404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. American Psychological Association, Task Force on Resilience and Strength in Black Children and Adolescents. Resilience in African American Children and Adolescents: A Vision for Optimal Development. Washington, DC: APA, 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Ungar M, Liebenberg L. Assessing resilience across cultures using mixed methods: Construction of the Child and Youth Resilience Measure. J Multiple Methods Res 2011;5(2):126–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Liebenberg L, Ungar M, Van de Vijver FRR. Validation of the Child and Youth Resilience Measure-28 (CYRM-28) among Canadian youth with complex needs. Res Soc Work Pract 2012;22(2):219–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Windle G, Bennet KM, Noye J. A methodological review of resilience measurement scales. Health Qual Life Outcomes 2011;9:8. doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-9-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Sánchez-Jankowski M. Cracks in the Pavement: Social Change and Resilience in Poor Neighborhoods. Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press, 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Conners CK, Sitarenios G, Parker JDA, Epstein, JN. The revised Conners’ Parent Rating Scale (CPRS-R): Factor structure, reliability, and criterion validity. J Abnorm Child Psychol 1998;26(4):257–68.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Conners, CK. The Conners Rating Scales: Use in clinical assessment, treatment planning and research. In: Maruish ME (Ed.), Use of Psychological Testing for Treatment Planning and Outcome Assessment. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  18. LeBlanc JC, Almudevar A, Brooks SJ, Kutcher S. The Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2002;12(2):113–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Linda Liebenberg PhD.

Additional information

Acknowledgements: This research was supported by the Public Safety Canada’s National Crime Prevention Centre (NCPC) and the Department of Health of Nova Scotia.

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Liebenberg, L., Ungar, M. & LeBlanc, J.C. The CYRM-12: A Brief Measure of Resilience. Can J Public Health 104, e131–e135 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03405676

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03405676

Key Words

Mots Clés

Navigation