Psychometric Evaluation of the Statistics Canada Resilience Scale of the General Social Survey

Resilience, the ability to adapt in the face of adversity, is an important trait for maintaining well-being across many life domains. This study explores the psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the Statistics Canada Resilience Scale within the General Social Survey. Using data from the 2016 survey cycle, which included 19,609 participants aged 15 and older, we conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to assess the scale's structure and fit. Results of these analyses indicated a single factor loading structure following the exclusion of one item due to inadequate loading, for a total of nine items retained. Subsequently, measurement invariance was tested across demographic groups including birth in Canada, religion, marriage status, visible minority status, language, age and sex. Strict invariance was achieved for certain variables (e.g. birth in Canada, visible minority status), and partial scalar invariance was observed for sex and age groups when adjustments to intercepts were made. Findings of this study highlight the importance of evaluating measurement invariance when employing resilience measures across different groups. Most importantly, it offers insights into the application of this measure within large-scale surveys.