The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC): Testing the invariance of a uni-dimensional resilience measure that is independent of positive and negative affect

Resilience comprises cognitive and behavioural tendencies that reflect dispositional character traits and patterns of behaviour that develop through life experience. Resilience is associated with positive mental and physical health outcomes although debate over its function as a predictor and/or outcome of successful stressful life conditions exists. Findings are confounded by a range of operational definitions. This study tested the factorial structure of the Connor and Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and assessed its independence of two broad affective constructs, positive and negative affect. Participants (n = 1775) comprised the youngest adult cohort from the PATH study from Canberra, Australia. Results supported a uni-dimensional CD-RISC measure that was independent of affect at an item level, but supported strong associations between resilience and affect factors. Comparable Goodness of Fit Indices supported strict invariance between genders on an oblique 3-factor model of resilience and affect.