Measuring resilience in young children: The Child and Youth Resilience Measure- Early Childhood (CYRM-EC)

Abstract

Early childhood is a particularly important time to nurture resilience. Strengthening measurement of resilience processes for young children is essential to advancing resilience science and application. The current study provides an initial validation of the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM) for parent/caregiver-report during early childhood (CYRM-EC). Participants included 265 children in the U.S. ages 4–5 years (M = 5.07 years) in the spring prior to kindergarten. The sample varied substantially by annual household income (36% earning ≤ $35,000; 43% ≥ $75,000) and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs; 47% had ≥ 1; 17% had ≥ 3). Diversity in child race/ethnicity was limited (69.5% White/Caucasian, 17.9% more than one race, 9.4% Latinx/Hispanic, 1.6% Asian, 0.4% Native American/Alaska Native, and 1.2% other races/ethnicities). The 11-item Child and Youth Resilience Measure-Early Childhood demonstrated strong internal reliability (α = .81) and a single factor structure. This measure also exhibited concurrent validity with both individual (children's self-regulation and social skills) and relational (positive parenting) promotive and protective factors and processes, accounting for covariates including child age, gender, race/ethnicity, ACEs, parent education, and nesting by classroom. Findings further indicated evidence for predictive (concurrent) validity of the Child and Youth Resilience Measure-Early Childhood to better overall child health status and fewer teacher-rated externalizing behaviors, but not to early literacy or math scores. Longitudinal research with young children of varying ages and from more diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds is needed to advance understanding of the Child and Youth Resilience Measure-Early Childhood and to inform application for preventive interventions.