The assessment of coping

Major methodological problems attend any attempt to measure coping. Some of these difficulties relate to the time frame, the units of evaluation, and who should judge the effectiveness of coping behaviors. Account must be taken of factors as diverse as the social context of the individual and the balance of costs and benefits to a person as a result of adopting a given strategy. Although many instruments exist to measure aspects of coping, there is a need to lay a sure foundation in subjective assessments by patients and never to lose sight of the individuality of each person and situation. The article reports on research conducted in the Nursing Research Unit at the University of Edinburgh in which an attempt has been made to examine both measurement issues and the components that explain coping.