How Czecho-Slovakia Bounces Back: Population-Based Validation of the Brief Resilience Scale in Two Central European Countries

Objective In recent years, resilience has become a focus of research in the medical and behavioral sciences. The Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) was developed to assess the individual ability to recover from stress (“to bounce back”) after experiencing adversities. The aim of the study was to validate the Czech and Slovak versions of the BRS.Methods A representative sample of the Czech and Slovak populations (NCZ= 1800, mean age MCZ= 46.6, SDCZ= 17.4, 48.7% of men; NSK= 1018, mean age MSK= 46.2, SDSK= 16.6, 48.7% men) completed a survey assessing their health and well-being. Several confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) models of the BRS were compared to find the best fit. Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega coefficients of reliability were evaluated. Convergent validity was assessed by correlating resilience (BRS), physical and mental well-being (SF-8) and psychopathology symptoms (BSI-53). Differences in gender and age groups were appraised.Results A single-factor model with method effects on the reverse items was evaluated to best fit the data in both the Czech and Slovak samples (χ2CZ(6) = 39.0, p < 0.001, CFICZ= 0.998, TLICZ= 0.995, RMSEACZ= 0.055, SRMRCZ= 0.024; χ2SK(6) = 23.9, p < 0.001, CFISK= 0.998, TLISK= 0.995, RMSEASK= 0.054, SRMRSK= 0.009). The reliability was high in both samples (αCZ= 0.80, ωCZ= 0.85; αSK= 0.86, ωSK= 0.91). The BRS was positively associated with physical and mental well-being and negatively associated with somatization, depression and anxiety. In both countries, a lower BRS score was associated with higher age. Czech men reported significantly higher BRS scores than women. No significant difference was found in the mean BRS scores between the two countries.Conclusion This study provides evidence of good psychometric properties, reliability and validity of the Czech and Slovak adaptations of the BRS.