Abstract
This study examined the construct validity of the assessment of coping dispositions. Recently divorced mothers (ns = 169-203) were assessed on 11 dimensions of coping, the number of major and small life stressors, and psychological distress on 2 occasions, 5.5 months apart. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the presence of 4 related dimensions of coping: Active Coping, Cognitive Restructuring, Social Support Seeking, and Avoidance. Active Coping was associated with less distress, but this relationship was modest in size and did not hold over time. Avoidance was consistently associated with greater distress in the cross-sectional analyses, but there was also evidence that psychological distress and small stressful events were 'causes' of increased avoidance. In summary, the results failed to provide uniform support for coping dispositions as currently assessed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 256-264 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Psychological Assessment |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 1996 |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Applied Psychology
Cite this
An examination of the construct validity of coping dispositions for a sample of recently divorced mothers. / Zautra, Alex J.; Sheets, Virgil L.; Sandler, Irwin.
In: Psychological Assessment, Vol. 8, No. 3, 09.1996, p. 256-264.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - An examination of the construct validity of coping dispositions for a sample of recently divorced mothers
AU - Zautra, Alex J.
AU - Sheets, Virgil L.
AU - Sandler, Irwin
PY - 1996/9
Y1 - 1996/9
N2 - This study examined the construct validity of the assessment of coping dispositions. Recently divorced mothers (ns = 169-203) were assessed on 11 dimensions of coping, the number of major and small life stressors, and psychological distress on 2 occasions, 5.5 months apart. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the presence of 4 related dimensions of coping: Active Coping, Cognitive Restructuring, Social Support Seeking, and Avoidance. Active Coping was associated with less distress, but this relationship was modest in size and did not hold over time. Avoidance was consistently associated with greater distress in the cross-sectional analyses, but there was also evidence that psychological distress and small stressful events were 'causes' of increased avoidance. In summary, the results failed to provide uniform support for coping dispositions as currently assessed.
AB - This study examined the construct validity of the assessment of coping dispositions. Recently divorced mothers (ns = 169-203) were assessed on 11 dimensions of coping, the number of major and small life stressors, and psychological distress on 2 occasions, 5.5 months apart. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the presence of 4 related dimensions of coping: Active Coping, Cognitive Restructuring, Social Support Seeking, and Avoidance. Active Coping was associated with less distress, but this relationship was modest in size and did not hold over time. Avoidance was consistently associated with greater distress in the cross-sectional analyses, but there was also evidence that psychological distress and small stressful events were 'causes' of increased avoidance. In summary, the results failed to provide uniform support for coping dispositions as currently assessed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0029824732&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0029824732&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1037/1040-3590.8.3.256
DO - 10.1037/1040-3590.8.3.256
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0029824732
VL - 8
SP - 256
EP - 264
JO - Psychological Assessment
JF - Psychological Assessment
SN - 1040-3590
IS - 3
ER -