Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences (A-COPE)

General Information on the Measure
Purpose of the measure

The Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences (A-COPE) is a self-report measure of coping strategies appropriate for use with adolescents.

Main constructs measured

Intrapersonal competencies

Applicable grade levels

Adolescents

Publication year for the most recent version

1987

Year originally developed

1987

Related measures
Measure Administration
Respondent

Student

Method of administration

Paper/Pencil

Number of items

54

Item format

Five-point Likert-type scale

Administration time

No information is available in the references reviewed.

Available languages

English

Fee for use Free and publicly available
Credentials required for administration

None

Scoring
Overall score reporting

No overall scores are reported.

Subscore reporting

There are 13 subscores:

  • Pro orientation
  • Avoid problems
  • External feelings
  • Social activities
  • Family interactions
  • Spiritual support
  • Physical diversions
  • Passive diversions
  • Catharsis
  • Being humorous
  • Professional support
  • Positive imagery
  • Self-reliance
Scoring procedures

The measure is self-scored.

Interpretive information

No information is available in the references reviewed.

Evidence of Technical Quality
Populations for which technical quality evidence has been collected

244 ninth-grade students from two junior high schools in a small, urban area (Copeland & Hess, 1995).

Reliability evidence

Internal consistency (alpha) coefficients range from 0.45 to 0.80 for the subscale scores (Copeland & Hess, 1995).

Validity evidence
Evidence based on content
No information is available in the references reviewed.
Evidence based on response processes
No information is available in the references reviewed.
Evidence based on internal structure
Exploratory factor analysis identified 13 factors (Copeland & Hess, 1995). Females had higher scores than males on four factors (proactive orientation, catharsis, positive imagery and self-reliance). Males had higher scores than females on three factors (avoiding problems, physical diversions and passive diversions).
Evidence based on relations with other variables
No information is available in the references reviewed.
Locating the Measure
Obtaining a copy of the measure ncfy.acf.hhs.gov
References

Patterson, Joan M., and Hamilton I. McCubbin, "Adolescent coping style and behaviors: Conceptualization and measurement," Journal of Adolescence, Vol. 10, No. 2, 1987, pp. 163–186.

Copeland, E. P., & Hess, R. S. "Differences in young adolescents' coping strategies based on gender and ethnicity," The Journal of Early Adolescence, Vol. 15, No. 2, 1995, pp. 203–219.

Notes

Measure summary updated October 3, 2018.