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Measuring Adolescent Coping Strategies: A Revalidation of the Adolescent Coping Orientation For Problem Experiences

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 October 2015

Paul C. Burnett*
Affiliation:
Queensland University of Technology
John P. Fanshawe
Affiliation:
Queensland University of Technology
*
School of Learning and Development, QUT Kelvin Grove Campus, Kelvin Grove Qld 4059, Australia, Telephone: (07) 3864 3306, Fax: (07) 3864 3987, e-mail: p.bumett@qut.edu.au
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Abstract

Over 1500 high school students responded to 54 items from Patterson and McCubbin's (1987) Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences (A-COPE), which measures adolescent coping behaviours. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to test and modify a model developed from an extensive literature review. The Adolescent Coping Strategies Scale (ACSS) emerged from the revalidation process and measures 10 first order coping strategies and three second or higher order factors. For researchers focussing on the use of coping mechanisms among adolescents, the ACSS promises to be a very usefil instrument. It has sound construct validity and good reliability, as demonstrated by goodness-of-fit indices and squared multiple correlations.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Australian Psychological Society 1996

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