The Children's Coping Behavior Questionnaire: Development and Validation

• Main Author: Hernandez, Brittany Cornell
• Other Authors: William D. Gouvier
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: LSU 2008
• Subjects: Psychology
• Online Access: http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-04052008-195424/

Coping is defined as the actions and cognitions used to manage stressful demands. As children develop, coping becomes more refined and situation-specific. Childrens coping styles have been found to relate to distress and adjustment. Despite the importance and implications of childrens coping responses, there is no accepted standard in measuring childrens coping. Past research has had to utilize the few measures in existence, despite possible psychometric inadequacies. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a psychometrically sound self-report measure of coping in children and adolescents. After initial item generation, pilot testing, and item elimination, the data were factor analyzed and reliability and validity data were obtained. Final analyses resulted in a 57-item coping measure with a three-factor solution (Diversion, Ameliorative Coping, and Destructive Coping). The measure showed strong reliability and good preliminary validity data. Results indicate that the Childrens Coping Behavior Questionnaire presents a promising new measure of youths coping.