Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of applying the self-rating scale of psychological resilience for middle school students among students of grade four to six in primary school and grade one to three in middle school in Changfeng county, Anhui province. To provide evidence for future study on mental health of middle and primary school students and left-behind children in Changfeng county.
Methods: The cluster sampling method were used to select three middle schools and five primary schools from Changfeng County in Hefei City. The psychological resilience among 2655 students of grade four to six were evaluated. The reliability and validity were analyzed. The self-rating scale of psychological resilience measures six dimensions included problem solving, cooperation and communication, self-efficacy, goals and aspirations, self-awareness, and empathy.
Results: The coefficient of Cronbach's a of the total scale scores was 0.944, that of grade four to six in primary school and grade one to three in middle school were from 0.932 to 0.947, and that of six factors were from 0.772 to 0.883. The correlation coefficient of split-half of the total scores was 0.874, and that of grade four to six in primary school and grade one to three in middle school were from 0.848 to 0.892. The test-retest reliability of the total scores was 0.894, and that of six factors were from 0.753 to 0.839, all correlations were significant statistically. Varimax rotation factor analysis was adopted and got six factors. Their accumulative contribution to total variance was 64.532%. The correlation coefficients between each item and the total scores were from 0.434 to 0.717, between each item and corresponding factors scores were from 0.683 to 0.876, between the total scores and six factors scores were from 0.692 to 0.846, among six factors scores were from 0.401 to 0.689, all correlations were significant statistically. The correlation coefficient between the total scores of the scale and depression was -0.493, and anxiety was -0.290, all correlations were significant statistically at the level of 0.01 with both side.
Conclusion: The reliability and validity of the self-rating scale of psychological resilience for middle school students are well among students of grade four to six in primary school and grade one to three in middle school and it can be used to evaluate the psychological resilience level of these people including left-behind children.