Strengths based rehabilitation assessment: Adapted Inventory of Virtues and Strengths.

BACKGROUND

The Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS) operationalizes 24 character strengths that compose the six virtues proposed in Peterson and Seligman's classification theory. Though the utility of the VIA-IS has been demonstrated in the general population, its applicability to the study of psychosocial adaptation in rehabilitation for individuals with disabilities has been controversial.

OBJECTIVE

The present study was to develop a measure of rehabilitation clients' positive traits, the Adapted Inventory of Virtues and Strengths (AIVS) designed to complement the applicability issues of the VIA-IS.

METHOD

Step-by-step AIVS development procedures are presented, and the AIVS factor structure identified via factor analysis is interpreted from a psychosocial adaptation perspective and compared to the VIA-IS factor structure.

RESULTS

AIVS subscales include Courage, Integrity, Practical Wisdom, Committed Action, and Emotional Transcendence. Construct validity was assessed by correlating AIVS factors with measures of resilience, life satisfaction, and well-being.

CONCLUSIONS

The AIVS offers a reliable framework that has clinical utility for strengths-based rehabilitation practice.