Frequency of use and impact of coping strategies assessed by the COPE Inventory and their relationships to post-event health and well-being

Abstract

In dealing with a stressful event, 440 participants reported how frequently they used a variety of different coping strategies, rated their separate impacts on problems and the associated emotions, and reported their effects on subsequent health and well-being. Coping strategies did not generally impact problems or emotions differently. Use of planning led to increased self-efficacy, which along with positive reinterpretation, predicted growth. Emotional venting and behavioral disengagement predicted diminishment, which along with mental disengagement and self-injury, predicted illness. Social support buffered against diminishment. Use of acceptance coping and seeking advice from others had both positive and negative effects on well-being.

Personality, Coping and Stress Among University Students

“…The COPE Inventory uses a 4-point scale with response options ranging from 1 (I usually donn't do this at all) to 4 (I usually do this a lot). The Alpha coefficient for COPE was .73 [28]. The alpha for this study was .79 for self-sufficient problem-focused coping, .70 for avoidant-coping, .84 for socially-supported, and .70 for self-sufficient emotion focused coping.…”

Academic Self-Efficacy, Coping, and Academic Performance in College

“…The results indicated that students who used problem-focused coping skills such as acceptance and planning had higher levels of self-efficacy, and that approach-oriented strategies had better outcomes than avoidant-oriented strategies (Litman & Lunsford, 2009). …”

Coping strategies as mediator variables between explanatory styles and depressive symptoms

“…As proposed by different authors (Carver et al, 1989;Litman & Lunsford, 2009) and in accordance with factors obtained through the exploratory factor analysis conducted with current data, two scores labelled as problem solving and positive cognitive restructuring (PS and PCR) strategies (active coping and planning, suppression of competing activities, positive reinterpretation and growth, and acceptance subscales) and avoidant strategies (denial, focus on and venting of emotions, behavioural and mental disengagement and substance use) were computed by averaging item scores corresponding to the different subscales. Higher scores indicate greater use of these coping strategies.…”

“…On the anales de psicología, 2015, vol. 31, nº 2 (mayo) other hand, strategies focused on the avoidance of the situation or on emotion intensification are systematically associated with greater psychological distress (Budge & Adelson, 2013;Folkman & Moskowitz, 2000;Litman & Lunsford, 2009;Stanton et al, 2007).…”