Description

The COPE Inventory Questionnaire (COPE-60) is a widely used psychological tool designed to assess how individuals cope with stress and adversity. It consists of 60 items that evaluate a variety of coping strategies. The questionnaire is divided into several subscales that represent different coping mechanisms, including problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, and avoidance strategies.

COPE-60 assesses various coping strategies through self-report items that ask respondents to rate how often they use specific coping methods when faced with stressful situations. Each item is rated on a scale, typically ranging from “Not at all” to “Very often,” reflecting the frequency of use of that coping strategy.

Analysis

Subscales: The COPE-60 includes multiple subscales that measure different aspects of coping. Common subscales include:

Active Coping: Efforts to actively address and manage the stressor.

Planning: Developing a plan to address the stressor.

Acceptance: Coming to terms with the stressor.

Humor: Using humor to cope with stress.

Denial: Refusing to acknowledge the stressor.

Substance Use: Using substances as a coping mechanism.

Scoring: Each item is typically rated on a Likert scale (e.g., 1 to 4, where 1 = “Not at all” and 4 = “Very often”). Scores for each subscale are calculated by summing the responses to the relevant items. Higher scores on specific subscales indicate greater use of that coping strategy.

Interpretation: The results can reveal which coping strategies individuals rely on and help identify patterns of coping behavior. This can be useful for understanding how people handle stress and for developing interventions to promote more adaptive coping strategies.

Application

Clinical Practice: The COPE-60 is used by clinicians to assess patients’ coping strategies, which can inform treatment planning and therapeutic interventions. Understanding an individual’s coping style can guide therapists in addressing maladaptive coping strategies and enhancing adaptive ones.

Research: In research settings, the COPE-60 is used to study the relationship between coping strategies and various psychological outcomes, such as mental health, well-being, and stress levels.

Workplace and Educational Settings: The inventory can be employed to assess and improve coping strategies in workplace or educational environments, aiding in stress management programs.

Scoring

Subscale Scores: Each subscale is scored separately. The total score for each subscale reflects the extent to which an individual employs that particular coping strategy.

Interpretation of Scores: High scores on certain subscales might indicate reliance on specific coping strategies. For example, high scores in “Active Coping” might suggest a proactive approach to dealing with stress, while high scores in “Denial” might indicate avoidance.

References

Carver, C. S. (1997). You want to measure coping but your protocol’s too long: Consider the Brief COPE. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 4(1), 92-100.

Carver, C. S., Scheier, M. F., & Weintraub, J. K. (1989). Assessing Coping Strategies: A Theoretically Based Approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56(2), 267-283.

Folkman, S., & Lazarus, R. S. (1988). The relationship between coping and emotion: Implications for theory and research. Social Science & Medicine, 26(3), 309-317.

Endler, N. S., & Parker, J. D. (1990). Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS): Manual. Multi-Health Systems.