Advisor(s)
Sylvie Mrug
Committee Member(s)
Christopher Henrich
Olivio Clay
Robin Ennis
Scott Snyder
School
College of Arts and Sciences
Document Type
Dissertation
Department (new version)
Psychology
Date of Award
9-11-2025
Abstract
The Resilience in Black Families Scale (RBFS) was developed to be a culturally relevant measure designed to assess the family resilience processes utilized within Black families. The purpose of this study was to validate the RBFS, which consists of a three-factor structure modeled after Walsh’s family resilience framework and is further enhanced with culturally relevant protective factors. Using a sample of 200 participants, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to test the theoretical hierarchical factor structure of the Resilience in Black Families model, consisting of 13 first order factors (making meaning of adversity, positive outlook, religiosity and spirituality, ethnic-racial socialization, racial identity, flexibility, connectedness, social support, active involvement, clarity, open emotional expression, collaborative problem-solving, and nurturance) organized into three second order factors (Family belief system, Family organizational patterns, and Communication and problem-solving). Initial item-level CFA revealed poor model fit and led to item refinement and the utilization of a parceling strategy. The final parcel-level CFA demonstrated acceptable model fit and reduced the number of items on the RBFS from 112 to 104 items. The modified RBFS demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency and small to moderate test-retest reliability across subscales. Validity analyses revealed mixed results. Convergent and discriminant validity were partially supported, while predictive and incremental validity were not. The RBFS, in its early stage of scale development, may serve as a useful and informative tool when working with Black families. Its use can be broadly applied in policy, research, and clinical contexts. Future studies should employ larger and more diverse samples and utilize item-response theory to further refine the scale.
ProQuest ID
Recommended Citation
Kelly, Destiny, "The Resilience In Black Families Scale: A Validation Study" (2025). All ETDs from UAB. 7385.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/7385
