Dimensions of coping that contribute to psychopathology

In an attempt to clarify the components of coping that relate to psychopathology, this study evaluated the simultaneous contribution of coping ability and coping actually executed, as well as the independent contribution of each, to psychopathology. Ninety female college students served as the primary sample, while an additional sample of 90 female college students served as the cross-validation sample. Each subject completed the MMPI and two versions of the Ways of Coping Checklist. Findings suggest that, while coping actually executed and coping ability show substantial overlap, both components of coping independently contribute unique variance to psychopathology. Implications for coping research and theory are discussed.