Operationalizing Variables

The WHOQOL SRPB contents were reviewed with reference to the summary of resilience research on the American Psychological Association’s website (American Psychological Association [APA], 2014)¹. Four items that constitute the facet on inner strength most closely reflected resilience to adversity. The remaining seven items were drawn from facets on hope and optimism, connection to a spiritual being, faith, and personal beliefs. These 11 items provided a pool from which the dependent variable (DV) items were selected.

The APA resilience characteristics were then mapped onto relevant WHOQOL SRPB facets to operationalize them. These 13 facets of QoL were hypothesized to be closely associated with resilience. Within these facets, two conceptual QoL clusters that define resilience or are concerned with practical strategies for building resilience were distinguished. Seven facets (in italics) were linked with defining resilience: (i) making realistic plans necessary for high-level decision-making (cognitions), (ii) having sufficient energy to implement plans, (iii) having a positive self-image, with good self-esteem and self-confidence, (iv) good communication and problem-solving skills, within positive personal relationships, (v) practical social support, and (vi and vii) strong positive feelings and weak negative feelings. Four of these facets were taken from the psychological domain, two from the social domain, and one from the physical domain. Six QoL facets were linked with practical strategies for building and maintaining resilience: (viii) opportunities to acquire new information and skills, (ix) opportunities to participate in recreation and leisure, (x) meaning in life, (xi) awe and wonder, (xii) wholeness and integration, and (xiii) kindness to others; this optional facet is rarely researched. Four of the six facets were drawn from the spiritual domain and two from the environment domain.