Hi,
I'm looking for a short strengths/resilience questionnaire that could be used as a companion to the ACE questionnaire and give a "resilience score" -
Thanks,
Leslie
Hi,
I'm looking for a short strengths/resilience questionnaire that could be used as a companion to the ACE questionnaire and give a "resilience score" -
Thanks,
Leslie
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Hi Leslie,
There is a resilience survey following the ACE survey here: http://acestoohigh.com/got-your-ace-score/
And an alternative resilience survey is available here: http://www.centerforresilientc...nt/uploads/DARS1.pdf
with additional info at: http://www.centerforresilientchildren.org/adults/
Thank you Alicia!
And as a high ACE scoring adult let me testify that the center for resiliency one is great. Honestly, I wouldn't have even categorized things they way they did under initiative and self-control (where I wasn't as strong) as beliefs and relationships (which I was really strong). It was a great way of looking differently at things and surprised/informed me and would be good for conversation.
It also doesn't bring up angst / shame feelings like the one on aces too high can for many of us - so - just throwing that two cents in as well.
Cissy
Thank you Cissy!
There also some information here: http://www.reachinginreachingo...ources-guidebook.htm
And you can download the Devereaux Adult Resilience Survey here. It's also pretty good, but doesn't include self-care such as adequate exercise, adequate sleep, good nutrition, meditation.
The resilience questionnaire at the end of Got Your ACE Score? is being used by the Children's Clinic, along with the ACE survey (10 questions plus four). You can find it attached to this story, as well as a PPT that Dr. RJ Gillespie put together that has some information about the relationship between resilience & ACE scores.
Thanks everyone not only for your responses and resources which are great but also for being so responsive! What a great community. I will probably use the Devereaux tool for our purposes. We are planning to do an exercise with a work group in Philadelphia that is working on creating compelling messages about ACEs. We are going to test out one strategy of "making the private public" using ACE and resilience scores. I'll keep you posted.
Leslie
At the AVA conference in San Diego, I asked RJ Gilespie why they chose the Got your Ace Score "Resilience" Questions. He said to the audience "Because it was free."
These are the questions:
RESILIENCE Questionnaire
Please circle the most accurate answer under each statement:
1. I believe that my mother loved me when I was little.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
2. I believe that my father loved me when I was little.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
3. When I was little, other people helped my mother and father take care of me and they seemed to love me.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
4. I’ve heard that when I was an infant someone in my family enjoyed playing with me, and I enjoyed it, too.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
5. When I was a child, there were relatives in my family who made me feel better if I was sad or worried.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
6. When I was a child, neighbors or my friends’ parents seemed to like me.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
7. When I was a child, teachers, coaches, youth leaders or ministers were there to help me.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
8. Someone in my family cared about how I was doing in school.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
9. My family, neighbors and friends talked often about making our lives better.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
10. We had rules in our house and were expected to keep them.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
11. When I felt really bad, I could almost always find someone I trusted to talk to.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
12. As a youth, people noticed that I was capable and could get things done.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
13. I was independent and a go-getter.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
14. I believed that life is what you make it.
Definitely true Probably true Not sure Probably Not True Definitely Not True
It makes a lot of sense to me that they are finding that as the ACE score goes up, then numbers of "Definitely Not True" on this questionnaire goes up. This is because if one had a caring mother, father, relatives and neighbors, school teachers etc.... one would be "protected" from ACEs just as a serious mother grizzly bear protects her cubs.
Maybe the Oregon Group should consider evaluating another "resilience" scale, Especially since they are screening mothers of 4 month old infants. At this age there is quite the risk for Post-Pardem Depression which is what my clinic screened for at 4 months. But anyway, for someone who has a new infant, maybe some depressed mood and then a high ACE score -- to have to think that nope my mom, dad, neighbors, teachers, other family members etc did not love me or protect me (that's hard) so I'm not resilient (well as I consider this, that makes sense), I just don't think this is what I would ever be going over with a new mother.... I believe asking the ACE questionnaire and educating about the effects of toxic stress exposure in a non-judgemental manner is a better approach. It makes me really concerned to ask these questions of a new mother. A mother may not respond negatively immediately but these are factors that can touch at the very core of one's serious trauma exposure, not having a loving, protective parent in your life when you were a child, and reflecting on the fact while now you are a new mother. This is very concerning to me.
I would rather use something that can help parents in the here and now learn about actions they can do to be empowered to engage in self care which is very helpful for anyone caring for a new infant (these questions are dis-empowering - there is no way an adult can go back and change the past that they never had control of anyway) .
Thanks Tina
I also posted the following from another post. Hope you weren't looking for short replies!!
Oh, the good ol’ days when there was mostly ‘definitive answers’ (albeit often misguided) to crucial questions, whatever the health field. The administration of the Resilience questionnaire is one of these crucial questions, especially whether to give it to young mothers (and fathers!). I understand that that could be detrimentally triggering, etc. at such a very sensitive time.
Ideally I think it would be better to give the questionnaire to them BEFORE they become parents. I know the time in pregnancy can be one of the most fertile (pun not actually intended!) moments of questioning about what happened to you, where you want to be with your parenting. At least it was for me… - The other crucial time being when one leaves home, IMHO…
As I posted in Patrick’s blog, “Unintended consequences…”, knowledge is power, power gives hope and I really oppose the waiting for the dissemination of this information left to the ‘experts’, and/or until such a debate is sorted, about whether to give the Resilience questionnaire or not.
The Resilience questionnaire to me is a fundamental part of the equation of understanding more about what happened to you and why you think and behave as you do. In the “What’s Your Ace Score?” responses on the Aces Too High website, many may give a high ACE score with a high Resilience score. Then as a beneficiary of such information, one may ask, such as those in my position: Well why didn’t I bounce back as they did? Why am I still struggling and finding it so hard? It gives you two scores – a more rounded picture because it’s more ‘data’.
The cancer analogy of whether one should know or not… Is it better if one has high ACEs and low Resilience score and may be dazed, confused and trepidatious about being a parent to remain in that state, or given the Resilience score as well, possibly be depressed and triggered, but with understanding, yes, it wasn’t good. And to have less than a nebulous idea about exactly how ‘bad’/not good, especially if one compares, which one does to get an understanding of how ‘alone’ they may feel or not, in this situation. And with talking to others who may give the Just Get Over It approach. Get over what, exactly ?! Who is more likely to seek help? The earlier one comes to grips with the (reality of the horrible) truth to me the sooner one can stand on one’s own feet (still working on that one at a much older age than I would like!), knowing more clearly what it is they have to deal with. As mentioned earlier, less likely if have such information to then be triggered as adults by others. It’s not a great/ideal choice. But maybe that’s the other part: ask the client do you want a fuller understanding? Again, it’s about empowering the disempowered…
There should be a caveat to those who do the screening: if you have little/no empathy, are judgmental and lack a basic ‘bedside manner’ do not attempt this…(!!) But then some doctors aren’t necessarily good at letting people know they have a fatal disease either…
Another positive about screening for both is that the practitioner will have the demand of actually addressing trauma more ‘successfully’, as people will be asking for just that. This has to be a plus in speeding up the process of TIC, as a more integrated system.
If practitioners could say something like, “Wow! You’ve have had this many ACEs and not many people/resources to help you in childhood, yet here you are, you’ve survived and you are….. (something obviously encouraging) - wouldn’t that be empowering? Particularly if it were followed up with your Resilience score of where you are now. That’s where the Devereaux Adult Resilience survey could be used. And that’s where giving them further resources – people, reading material etc would be supportive.
A lot of screening but hey, if one wants the big picture.
There’s no science in this part. It would be very difficult. A control group that weren’t given the Resilience questionnaire and those that were and followed up years later as to how they’re moving forward/progressing? Or electrodes placed on the brain of both groups as to which parts and how much light up as well as the follow up survey years later. I don’t know. But I do have the feeling, and yes it’s only intuitive personal feeling that taking everything into account, I think it’s better to give both questionnaires… or all three.
A definitive answer would be wonderful. I know it’s not possible, as it can be situation dependent. From my end I’m talking to anyone who’ll listen and is in a position to make changes, but I need a SOMEWHAT definitive answer to tell them and I look to you guys to guide me! You’re much more in a position to answer this than me. The people I talk about ACEs etc to also need (could substitute need with: demand!) ‘definitive’ answers to even think about taking some of it onboard… Again, it’s about using the same language, the same process, the same intentional thinking that is agreed upon as much as possible. With or without the science.
Long winded of me as usual, but again, such a, or maybe, THE crucial question here to all those who are disseminating ACE etc information.
Thanks everyone not only for your responses and resources which are great but also for being so responsive! What a great community. I will probably use the Devereaux tool for our purposes. We are planning to do an exercise with a work group in Philadelphia that is working on creating compelling messages about ACEs. We are going to test out one strategy of "making the private public" using ACE and resilience scores. I'll keep you posted.
Leslie
Looking forward to your updates on the project Leslie!
Thanks everyone not only for your responses and resources which are great but also for being so responsive! What a great community. I will probably use the Devereaux tool for our purposes. We are planning to do an exercise with a work group in Philadelphia that is working on creating compelling messages about ACEs. We are going to test out one strategy of "making the private public" using ACE and resilience scores. I'll keep you posted.
Leslie
Hi Leslie and Liz,
I'm developing a free, online and open source ACE screening tool well-suited for both embedding into websites of all types as well as for doing screening in person (and with nice PDF-reports being output by it).
It's supposed to be multi-lingual as well, supporting the screening of people of different ethnicities as well.
If it has any interest, I would love to talk to you guys about your requirements as I'm in the initial development phase and need all the ping-pong I can get. :-)
Best,
Thomas
Hi Leslie,
I'm sorry it took so long to find this posting, and I don't know if I already sent you this. We use this for our ACEs/Resilience trainings as a pre-questionnaire and present the ACE score breakdown as well as the assets score along with the ACE Study and State scores.
The resilience/asset questions were adapted from the 40 Developmental Assets and we use a yes/no response to match the ACE Questionnaire. We review it like the community ACE scores, as a snapshot of the community, vs. an individual "assessment."
In our group analysis, we also look at where the most assets are and where the "opportunities" for development are. Often the neighbors being connected questions are the opportunities for community resilience building.
Geof Morgan, Whatcom County, Washington
Asset Inventory
Answer yes or no after each statement if it is mostly true for you.
TOTAL ASSETS
Here is a link to The Resiliency Quiz I developed based on the body of resiliency research. Thousands of educators across the U.S. have used it, and I have given it to many high school students (and then had them set "resiliency-building goals" based on their score on this quiz: