Development and Validation of the Social Ecological Resilience Scale (SERS) from a Systems Perspective for Hong Kong Families

Figures & data

Table 1. Respondents’ demographic information (N = 506).

	Mean (SD)
Variables	EFA sample (n = 253)	CFA sample (n = 253)	All respondents (N = 506)	t-test	p value
Age	45.13 (12.30)	43.96 (12.74)	44.55 (12.53)	1.058	.291
	n (%)			chi-square test	p value
Gender				1.758	.185
Male	58 (22.9)	71 (28.1)	129 (25.5)
Female	195 (77.1)	182 (71.9)	377 (74.5)
Marital status				2.301	.681
Single	49 (19.4)	51 (20.2)	100 (19.8)
Married	122 (48.2)	111 (43.9)	233 (46.0)
Separated/Divorced	66 (26.1)	76 (30.0)	142 (28.1)
Widowed	13 (5.1)	14 (5.5)	27 (5.3)
Others	3 (1.2)	1 (0.4)	4 (0.8)
Have child(ren)				0	–
Yes	197 (77.9)	197 (77.9)	394 (77.9)
No	56 (22.1)	56 (22.1)	112 (22.1)
Education level				3.200	.669
Primary education or below	25 (9.9)	19 (7.5)	44 (8.7)
Primary education	21 (8.3)	30 (11.9)	51 (10.1)
Secondary education	151 (59.7)	144 (56.9)	295 (58.3)
Associate degree/diploma	19 (7.5)	23 (9.1)	42 (8.3)
Bachelor degree	26 (10.3)	24 (9.5)	50 (9.9)
Master degree or above	11 (4.3)	13 (5.1)	24 (4.7)
Main employment				4.930	.553
Full-time	51 (20.2)	60 (23.7)	111 (21.9)
Part-time	36 (14.2)	28 (11.1)	64 (12.6)
Family caregiver	93 (36.8)	96 (37.9)	189 (37.4)
Student	5 (2.0)	11 (4.3)	16 (3.2)
Waiting for employment	11 (4.3)	9 (3.6)	20 (4.0)
Unemployed	32 (12.6)	29 (11.5)	61 (12.1)
Retired	25 (9.9)	20 (7.9)	45 (8.9)
Residential district in Hong Kong				1.656	.647
Hong Kong Island	38 (15.0)	41 (16.2)	79 (15.6)
Kowloon	125 (49.4)	129 (51.0)	254 (50.2)
New Territories	89 (35.2)	80 (31.6)	169 (33.4)
Others	1 (0.4)	3 (1.2)	4 (0.8)
Living alone				0.062	.803
Yes	39 (15.4)	37 (14.6)	76 (15.0)
No	214 (84.6)	216 (85.4)	430 (85.0)
Family monthly income				7.847	.249
No income	60 (23.7)	52 (20.6)	112 (22.1)
HK$10,000 or below	50 (19.8)	72 (28.5)	122 (24.1)
HK$10,001–HK$20,000	73 (28.9)	71 (28.1)	144 (28.5)
HK$20,001–HK$30,000	30 (11.9)	24 (9.5)	54 (10.7)
HK$30,001–HK$40,000	7 (2.8)	10 (4.0)	17 (3.4)
HK$40,001–HK$50,000	16 (6.3)	9 (3.6)	25 (4.9)
HK$50,001 or above	17 (6.7)	15 (5.9)	32 (6.3)
Physical health				0.543	.969
Excellent	12 (4.7)	15 (5.9)	27 (5.3)
Good	85 (33.6)	84 (33.2)	169 (33.4)
Fair	110 (43.5)	112 (44.3)	222 (43.9)
Poor	37 (14.6)	34 (13.4)	71 (14.0)
Very poor	9 (3.6)	8 (3.2)	17 (3.4)

Table 2. Results of exploratory factor analysis (N = 253).

	Item statement	Factor loading
Factor		F1	F2	F3	F4	F5	F6	F7	F8
1	55. We consult with each other about decisions.	0.793
	53. We can talk about the way we communicate in our family.	0.785
	49. We can be honest and direct with each other in our family.	0.778
	58. We discuss things until we reach a resolution.	0.775
	51. We can compromise when problems come up.	0.774
	57. We discuss problems and feel good about the solutions.	0.772
	54. We can work through difficulties as a family.	0.757
	47. We are understood by other family members.	0.754
	56. We define problems positively to solve them.	0.739
	44. We are able to work through pain and come to an understanding.	0.731
	62. We share responsibility in the family.	0.724
	52. We can deal with family differences in accepting a loss.	0.708
	63. We try new ways of working with problems.	0.703
	59. We feel free to express our opinions.	0.692
	61. We learn from each other’s mistakes.	0.691
	65. We work to make sure family members are not emotionally or physically hurt.	0.658
	48. We can ask for clarification if we do not understand each other.	0.656
	50. We can blow off steam at home without upsetting someone.	0.653
	60. We feel good giving time and energy to our family.	0.626
	45. We are adaptable to demands placed on us as a family.	0.625
2	82. I have a special person who is a real source of comfort to me.		0.902
	86. There is a special person in my life who cares about my feelings.		0.874
	83. My friends really try to help me.		0.868
	81. There is a special person with whom I can share joys and sorrows.		0.865
	87. I can talk about my problems with my friends.		0.858
	85. I have friends with whom I can share my joys and sorrows.		0.847
	80. There is a special person who is around when I am in need.		0.842
	84. I can count on my friends when things go wrong.		0.810
3	5. Thanks to my resourcefulness, I know how to handle unforeseen situations.			0.846
	9. If I am in trouble, I can usually think of a solution.			0.764
	6. I can solve most problems if I invest the necessary effort.			0.760
	8. When I am confronted with a problem, I can usually find several solutions.			0.745
	4. I am confident that I could deal efficiently with unexpected events.			0.738
	7. I can remain calm when facing difficulties because I can rely on my coping abilities.			0.737
	1. I can always manage to solve difficult problems if I try hard enough.			0.696
	10. I can usually handle whatever comes my way.			0.688
	3. It is easy for me to stick to my aims and accomplish my goals.			0.649
4	10. The misunderstanding of others will make me feel sad.				0.790
	6. The criticism and accusation of others will make me sad for a long time.				0.763
	7. Things that are unhappy will trouble me for a long time.				0.748
	11. After quarreling with others, it is difficult for me to calm down.				0.747
	9. Unpleasant things during the day often make it difficult for me to sleep at night.				0.665
5	33. When I’m down and out, I remind myself that there are lots of other people in the world feeling like I am.					0.837
	34. When I feel inadequate in some way, I try to remind myself that feelings of inadequacy are shared by most people.					0.823
	35. I try to see my failings as part of the human condition.					0.704
	32. When things are going badly for me, I see the difficulties as part of life that everyone goes through.					0.625
6	24. I’m kind to myself when I’m experiencing suffering.						0.753
	23. When I’m going through a very hard time, I give myself the caring and tenderness I need.						0.746
	22. I try to be loving towards myself when I’m feeling emotional pain.						0.724
7	27. When I see aspects of myself that I don’t like, I get down on myself.							0.716
	28. When times are really difficult, I tend to be tough on myself.							0.710
	29. I can be a bit cold-hearted towards myself when I’m experiencing suffering.							0.685
8	41. My attitude about myself is probably not as positive as most people feel about themselves.								0.695
	38. I feel like many of the people I know have gotten more out of life than I have.								0.600
Eigenvalue		16.30	6.11	3.57	3.36	2.08	1.54	1.27	1.10
Explained variance (%)		30.18	11.31	6.61	6.22	3.86	2.85	2.35	2.04
Cumulative variance (%)		30.18	41.50	48.10	54.32	58.17	61.03	63.37	65.41

Figure 1. Second-order single factor structural model and estimations of parameters.

Table 3. Summary table of correlation analysis (n = 253).

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
1. Total ERS score	1
2. Emotional flexibility	0.552**	1
3. Coping ability	0.691**	0.307**	1
4. Self-kindness	0.689**	0.368**	0.555**	1
5. Common humanity	0.549**	0.270**	0.400**	0.448**	1
6. Family support	0.719**	0.293**	0.322**	0.404**	0.338**	1
7. Social support	0.779**	0.295**	0.452**	0.451**	0.286**	0.289**	1

** p < .01.

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available upon reasonable request.