A FACTOR ANALYTICALLY DERIVED MEASURE OF COPING - THE COPING STRATEGY INDICATOR

Three stages of factor-analytic investigation aimed at uncovering general strategies that underlie the myriad specific coping responses to stress. Each stage utilized a separate, large, heterogeneous sample, yet analyses consistently revealed three fundamental strategies: Problem Solving, Seeking Social Support, and Avoidance. Over the course of studies, a short, self-report questionnaire evolved that indicates the extent to which each of the strategies has been employed in a recent stressful event. A fourth stage of study, focusing on the instrument's psychometric properties, revealed orthogonality of scales and good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity. Advantages over existing measures, as well as potential problems in the instrument, are discussed.