Factorial structure of the Resiliency Scale for Children and Adolescents (RSCA) among incarcerated male adolescent offenders
| Pages | 23-36 |
| Date | 13 February 2017 |
| Published date | 13 February 2017 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-08-2015-0043 |
| Author | Rachel A. Gibson,Jane Clarbour |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Forensic practice,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Law enforcement/correctional,Public policy & environmental management,Policing,Criminal justice |
Factorial structure of the
Resiliency Scale for Children
and Adolescents (RSCA) among
incarcerated male adolescent offenders
Rachel A. Gibson and Jane Clarbour
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to explore the factor structure of the Resiliency Scales for Children
and Adolescents (RSCA, Prince-Embury, 2006, 2007) and to provide supporting evidence that this is a
psychometrically sound measure for practitioners and researchers to use to assess resilience in incarcerated
male adolescent offenders in the UK.
Design/methodology/approach –Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to determine if the factor
structure could be replicated among incarcerated male adolescent offenders. Concurrent validation of the
measure was also conducted, utilising the Beck Youth Inventory, second edition (BYI-II-II; Beck et al., 2005).
Findings –CFA of the RSCA was unable to confirm the structure of the measure at an item level, therefore
parcelling techniques were utilised similarly to Prince-Embury and Courville (2008), using the subscales for
the factors as indicators for the factors. While a three-factor model was found to be an acceptable fit to the
data, there was also some support for a two-factor model. Despite this, there was more statistical support for
the three-factor model and arguments are made for retaining this structure. Expected associations between
the three subscales of sense of mastery, sense of relatedness and emotional reactivity were found with the
Beck Youth Inventory demonstrating support for the concurrent validity of the measure in incarcerated male
adolescent offenders.
Practical implications –This paper provides support for the internal structure of the RSCA with
incarcerated male adolescent offenders within the UK, although some caution should be used when
interpreting scores from the subscales. The findings suggest that the RSCA can be utilised by practitioners to
identify young people who may benefit from additional support and also in assessment and treatment/
intervention planning. This may be particularly useful when practitioners wish to explore the potential
protective nature of resilience.
Originality/value –The current study is the first of its kind to formally explore the factor structure of the
RSCA with incarcerated male adolescent offenders.
Keywords Resilience, Confirmatory factoranalysis, Concurrentvalidation, Incarcerated adolescent offenders,
Internal structure, Male adolescent offenders
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Few studies have examined the presence of resilient characteristicswithin adolescents who have
come into contactwith the Criminal Justice System.This is despite the fact that resiliencehas been
described as a critical protective factor for adolescent offenders (Borum et al., 2002) and that
offending is commonplace among young people (e.g. Murray, 2010; Laub and Sampson, 2001).
The aim of the current study was to explore the measurement of resilience in male adolescent
offenders within the UK at the level of the individual. Adolescent offenders are characterised by a
high prevalence of psychiatric disorders (Ulzen and Hamilton, 1998), learning disorders, are more
Received 26 August 2015
Revised 30 November 2015
Accepted 1 December 2015
Rachel A. Gibson
is a Forensic Psychologist at
the Department of Psychology,
University of York, York, UK
and Young People’s Estate
Psychology Services, HM
Prison Service, UK.
Jane Clarbour is a Senior
Lecturer at the Department of
Psychology, University of York,
York, UK.
DOI 10.1108/JFP-08-2015-0043 VOL. 19 NO. 1 2017, pp. 23-36, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8794
j
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE
j
PAG E 23
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