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Development and Validation of the Robust - Pandemic Coping Scale (R-PCS)
Roberto Burro1, Giada Vicentini1, Emmanuela Rocca1
1Department of Human Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Frontiers in Psychology
|September 27, 2021
Summary
University students developed distinct coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic, including Despair, Adjustment, Proactivity, and Aversion. Adjustment and Proactivity were adaptive coping mechanisms, while Despair and Aversion were maladaptive, impacting well-being.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Pandemics like COVID-19 significantly impact mental health, increasing psychopathological symptoms and negative emotions.
- Coping strategies are crucial for mitigating the adverse psychological effects of stressful events.
- Research on pandemic coping mechanisms, particularly among university students, remains limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a robust scale for measuring pandemic-specific coping strategies.
- To investigate how university students coped during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To identify adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies in a pandemic context.
Main Methods:
- Development of the Robust - Pandemic Coping Scale (R-PCS) based on needs of competence, relatedness, and autonomy.
- Application of Rasch modeling for scale robustness and item independence.
- Factor analyses (exploratory and confirmatory) to establish the R-PCS factor structure.
- Validation using the Power to Live with Disasters Questionnaire (PLDQ) and assessment of predictive validity over two months.
Main Results:
- A 4-factor model (Despair, Adjustment, Proactivity, Aversion) for the R-PCS was validated and found to be invariant across gender and age groups.
- The R-PCS demonstrated discriminant, criterion, and predictive validity, correlating with emotional outcomes.
- Adaptive strategies (Adjustment, Proactivity) were linked to positive outcomes, while maladaptive strategies (Despair, Aversion) were associated with negative outcomes.
- Gender and age differences in coping strategies were observed, with females scoring higher on Despair, Adjustment, and Proactivity, males on Aversion, and older students on Proactivity.
Conclusions:
- The R-PCS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing pandemic-related coping strategies in university students.
- Coping strategies significantly influence psychological well-being during pandemics, with distinct adaptive and maladaptive patterns.
- Understanding these coping differences is vital for developing targeted psychological interventions during health crises.
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