On the dimensionality of the Proactive Coping Inventory: 7, 5, 3 factors?

Abstract

Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were employed to test the factorial validity and structure of the Proactive Coping Inventory (PCI; Greenglass, Schwarzer, Jakubiec, Fiksenbaum, & Taubert, 1999) in a large multiethnic sample (n=709). CFAs conducted on each individual scale of the PCI supported congeneric measurement. However, when the scales of the PCI were tested simultaneously in a model, a 3-factor model representing Logical Analysis/Problem Solving, Social Support, and Avoidance fit as well as both a 5- and the original 7-factor model. Moreover, strong redundancy among factors of both the 5- and 7-factor models suggested that these models did not represent the PCI well. In addition, multigroup analyses revealed that the parameters (e.g., factor loadings, item intercepts) of the 3-factor model were largely invariant across gender and ethnic groups. Discussion focuses on the interpretability of the 3-factor model of the PCI, and particularly in relation to traditional measures of reactive coping.

Proactive Coping Behavior in Sample of University Students in Helping Professions

“…Thus, responses to nonspecific external stressors may result in a different action. It is difficult, however, to conceptualize how proactive coping could be meaningfully assessed because of the temporal orientation of this measure, where stressors are anticipated but not necessarily known (Roesch et al, 2009). Second, these results are generalizable only to this presented research sample of students in helping profession.…”

“…Within the last decade PCI has been translated into many language contexts, such as Hungarian (Almássy et al, 2014), Hindi (Bhusham, Gautam, & Greenglass, 2010), Macedonian (Ristovska et al, 2014) and Czech (Šolcová, Lukavsky, & Greenglass, 2006), and used in a large multiethnic sample (Roesch et al (2009). Since the PCI was previously translated and tested in the Czech educational environment, the Czech version of the PCI (Šolcová, Lukavsky, & Greenglass, 2006) was used in the present study.…”

“…Three primary limitations are now discussed. First, as stated by Roesch et al (2009), the PCI is a dispositional measure of coping. Thus, responses to nonspecific external stressors may result in a different action.…”

Future-Oriented Coping and Job Hunting Among College Students

“…Considering the five-stage model, preventive coping is similar to the first stage, resource accumulation. In contrast, proactive coping takes more constructive and purposeful actions (taking charge, seeking challenges; Greenglass, Schwarzer, Jakubiec, Fiksenbaum, & Taubert, 1999) and includes logical analysis/problem solving and social support (Roesch et al, 2009), which is in line with the fourth stage, preliminary coping. Concerning job hunting, preventive coping may start earlier when the stress is distant and uncertain, for example, in the first years of college, whereas proactive coping may be invoked later when the stress is upcoming, such as in the graduating year.…”

Using the Proactive Coping Inventory to measure Southern African university students’ coping styles

“…This has been predicted by Roesch et al (2009), who state that based on the conceptualisation of the PCI subscales, they should be highly correlated. Specifically, statistically significant relationships were found between Proactive Coping and both Instrumental Support Seeking and Emotional Support Seeking, which links to literature pertaining to the use of social support when coping with stress.…”