Coping with Stress Questionnaire: Application of the four-factor model

Abstract

Straipsnyje pristatoma lietuviška streso įveikos vertinimo metodika. Ji sudaryta naudojant empirinę skalių konstravimo strategiją. Darbas atliktas trimis etapais. Pirmuose dviejuose, panaudojus aiškinamosios aktorinės analizės matematinį modelį, pradinis teiginių skaičius – 167 buvo sumažintas iki 24, jie priskirti keturiems faktoriams: socialinės paramos, problemų sprendimo, emocinės iškrovos ir vengimo. Trečiojo tyrimo etapo metu įvertintos kai kurios klausimyno psichometrinės savybės. Nustatyta, kad išskirti faktoriai paaiškina 47,93 proc. duomenų dispersijos. Gauti tokie skalių vidinio suderinamumo (Cronbacho α rodikliai: socialinė parama (α = 0,832), problemų sprendimas (α = 0,760), emocinė iškrova (α = 0,721), vengimas (α = 0,624). Patvirtinančiosios faktorinės analizės rezultatai rodo patenkinamą pasirinkto keturių faktorių modelio tinkamumą: Chi-Square = 140,81; RMSEA = 0,055; GFI = 0,89; CFI = 0,87; NNFI = 0,84. Pagrindiniai žodžiai: streso įveika, streso įveikos strategijos, streso įveikos matavimas.
 
 COPING WITH STRESS QUESTIONNAIRE: APPLICATION OF THE FOUR-FACTOR MODELŽygimantas Grakauskas, Gintautas Valickas
 SummaryThe article introduces the Lithuanian stress coping assessment method. The lack of stress coping assessment methods adapted for the Lithuanian population fostered its composition. The method was constructed using the strategy of empirical scale development. The research was carried out in three stages. In the first and second stages, statements were selected from various stress coping questionnaires (WCQ, COPE, CISS etc.) and classified using the mathematical model of explanatory factor analysis. In the first stage, the original list consisting of 167 statements was submitted to 178 participants of the study. In the second stage, the list consisting of 90 statements was submitted to 147 participants. The participants were students of Vilnius University and the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania, average age – 20.4 years. On the basis of mathematical criteria and semantic analysis of the statements, the number of the statements was reduced to 24 in the final version of the questionnaire; 4 factors were xtracted: social support, problem solving, emotional discharge, avoidance. 208 participants took part in the third stage of the study, during which some psychometrical characteristics of the questionnaire were assessed. It was established that these four factors explain for 47.93 per cent of data dispersion. The following indexes of scales reliability (Cronbach’s alpha) were found: social support (α = 0.832), problem solving (α = 0.760), emotional discharge (α = 0.721), avoidance (α = 0.624). Confirmatory factor analysis data indicate a satisfactory suitability of the model of four factors (Chi-Square = 140.81; RMSEA = 0.055; GFI = 0.89; CFI = 0.87; NNFI = 0.84).While composing the questionnaire, the problem of optimal balance was encountered between choosing a good method in the sense of content and a method distinctive characterized by good psychometrical characteristics. There is a plan in the future to verify the psychometrical characteristic of the composed stress coping assessment method on the basis of data of a more representative sample, to assess the relation of the questionnaire to the other methods of stress coping and to improve separate scales of the questionnaire, especially those dealing with the factor of avoidance. Keywords: coping with stress, stress coping strategies, stress coping measurement.
 

Emotional Intelligence and Stress Coping Strategies Among Students of Physical Education and Sport Study Programs

“…2. A questionnaire composed by Grakauskas and Valickas (2006) was used to identify stress coping strategies, which consists of four factors: first, social support factor, which reflects stress coping strategies related to social support; second, problem-solving factor including questionnaire statements related to problemsolving strategies; third, emotional discharge factor, including statements that represent respondent's attempts to overcome a stressful situation by pouring out accumulated negative emotions and finding those who are responsible for stress; fourth, the avoidance factor including the questionnaire statements reflecting stress coping strategies associated with psychological avoidance were assigned. The questionnaire also included a sociodemographic section that asked participants about their gender and the year of study.…”

Psychometric characteristics of the improved four-factor coping with stress questionnaire

“…The article presents the process of improving the Lithuanian coping with stress questionnaire (Grakauskas ir Valickas, 2006). To assess the reliability and construct validity of the four-factor questionnaire, three studies with the participation of 831 respondents were conducted.…”

Avoidance / approach motivation: Relation with psychological stress and coping

“…The sensitivity of motivation systems was measured using BIS / BAS scales (Carver and White, 1994). The selection of coping strategies was assessed by "Four factor coping questionnaire" (Grakauskas and Valickas, 2006). For the emotional reactions evaluation Áteikta 2006-09-04 7 points Likert scale was used.…”