Assessing reserve-building pursuits and person characteristics: psychometric validation of the Reserve-Building Measure

Aims: A growing body of research suggests that regularly engaging in stimulating activities across multiple domains—physical, cultural, intellectual, communal, and spiritual—builds resilience. This project investigated the psychometric characteristics of the DeltaQuest Reserve-Building Measure for use in prospective research. Methods: The study included Rare Patient Voice panel participants. The web-based survey included the Reserve-Building Measure with one-week re-test, measures of quality of life (QOL) and well-being (PROMIS General Health; NeuroQOL Cognitive Function and Positive Affect & Well-Being short-forms; Ryff Environmental Mastery subscale); and the Big Five Inventory-10 personality measure. Classical test theory and item response theory (IRT) analyses investigated psychometric characteristics of the Reserve-Building Measure. Results: This North American sample (n = 592) included both patients and caregivers [mean age = 44, SD 19)]. Psychometric analyses revealed distinct subscales measuring current reserve-building activities (Active in the World, Games, Outdoors, Creative, Religious/Spiritual, Exercise, Inner Life, Shopping/Cooking, Passive Media Consumption,), past reserve-building activities (Childhood Activities, Achievement), and reserve-related person-factors (Perseverance, Current and Past Social Support, and Work Value). Test–retest stability (n = 101) was moderately high for 11 of 15 subscales (ICC range 0.78–0.99); four were below 0.59 indicating a need for further refinement. IRT analyses supported the item functioning of all subscales. Correlational analyses suggest the measure’s subscales tap distinct constructs (range r = 0.11–0.46) which are not redundant with QOL, well-being, or personality (range r = 0.11–0.48). Conclusions: The Reserve-Building Measure provides a measure of activities and person-factors related to reserve that may potentially be useful in prospective research.