Psychometric Evaluation of the Child and Youth Resilience Measure-Revised (CYRM-R) among young mothers affected by HIV in South Africa

Background: Resilience is a core psychological construct linked to well-being and adaptative functioning, yet few resilience measures have been psychometrically validated for use among young people in low and middle-income settings. Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in sub-Saharan Africa face intersecting social and health challenges, s, including early and unintended pregnancies and heightened HIV risk, underscoring the need for culturally appropriate and psychometrically sound tools. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Child and Youth Resilience Measure-Revised (CYRM-R) within a cohort of young mothers in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Methods: Data were drawn from 892 young mothers participating in the HEY BABY cohort study (December 2021 and April 2023). Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were used to examine the dimensional structure of the CYRM-R, and internal consistency was assessed to determine reliability. Results: Analyses supported a two-factor structure representing personal resilience and caregiver resilience. This structure remained stable following item reduction from 17 to 15 items, suggesting strong structural integrity. The overall scale demonstrated acceptable reliability (α = .76; Ω = .75). The personal resilience subscale showed moderate reliability (α = .65; Ω = .61), while the caregiver resilience subscale demonstrated stronger internal consistency (α = .72; Ω = .75). Conclusion: The CYRM-R demonstrates acceptable reliability and structural validity among adolescent and young mothers in South Africa. Findings support its use as a contextually appropriate measure of resilience and contribute to the broader evidence base on resilience assessment in low and middle-income settings This scale may be useful for both research and applied psychological settings focused on youth well-being.