Resilience of athletes with physical disabilities: A cross-sectional study

This study focused on evaluating the resilience of 208 athletes with a physical disability and on testing the Wagnild and young Resilience Scale. The mean resilience scores, considered to represent moderate resilience, were similar for men (X= 132.4 +/- 30.9) and women (X= 131.4 +/- 35.7). Participants with spinal cord injuries and myelomeningocele were observed to have achieved higher resilience scores, while those with cerebral palsy obtained the lowest and those with amputations or polio obtained intermediate scores (F= 3,p =.019). The participants in this research study displayed a significantly lower mean resilience (X = 132.13 +/- 32.25) than those reported in other studies with the general population. A factor analysis showed multidimensional causes, with seven factors accounting for 61.27% of the total variation. Moreover, the research tool/questionnaire showed a good internal consistency (alpha =.88). The moderate resilience scores indicate that there is potential for developing these athletes' resilience.