COPE-Inventory: Factorial structure with a sample of college students

Abstract

Some of the current controversies and challenges regarding coping conceptualisation and assessment are addressed, followed by a discussion of the procedures used to validate a Portuguese version of the COPE Inventory (Carver, Scheier, & Weintraub, 1989) using a sample of 1074 freshmen from various courses in the University of Porto. An Exploratory Factor Analysis was conducted with the first (randomly selected) half of the sample. On the second half each scale local adjustment, as well as global model fit were tested, using Confirmatory Factor Analysis, revealing adequate fit indexes. An adapted version of the measure with 4 scales, reflecting Active/Reflexive, Seeking support, Avoidant and Positive Signification strategies, is proposed. These scales revealed a satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach’s alphas ranging between .64 e .80) and significant and moderate intercorrelation in the expected direction, suggesting distinct but nevertheless potentially interdependent coping strategies that could coexist throughout the coping process.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v24i1.296