RESILIENCE SCALE VALIDATION IN COASTAL FISHERMEN POPULATIONS

Abstract

Coastal community populations, especially fishermen, face environmental, occupational, and socio-economic challenges that necessitate heightened psychological resilience. This study aims to validate a culturally adapted resilience scale tailored for coastal fishing communities. A mixed-methods approach was utilized to administer the scale to a sample of 400 fishermen from various coastal regions. Psychometric analyses, including exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, were conducted to evaluate the scale's reliability, construct validity, and internal consistency. Results showed that the adapted scale had strong reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.89) and a valid factor structure aligned with resilience domains, adaptability, optimism, and social support. The Tool is a valuable aid for mental health initiatives, policy formulation, and disaster preparedness strategies in the coastal fishing communities.