Coping Strategies Among Undergraduates: Spanish Adaptation and Validation of the Brief-COPE Inventory

Different studies have highlighted the importance of coping strategies in stressful situations. The Coping Orientation to Problem Experienced (COPE) by Carver et al is one of the instruments that is frequently used for measuring this aspect. The aim of this study was to carry out the cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Brief-COPE inventory to measure coping strategies in Spanish populations.

The linguistic and cultural adaptation of the Brief-COPE was carried out using the back-translation method and, after considering the results of the pilot test, the Spanish version of the instrument was configured, and subsequently administered to a convenient sample of 2135 undergraduates. A confirmatory factor analysis was carried out to examine construct validity of the Spanish adaptation of the brief-COPE; likewise, reliability was analyzed from two approaches, internal consistency and composite reliability. Concurrent validity was also tested.

The results showed that the Spanish version of Brief-COPE has adequate reliability values, as well as satisfactory fit indexes for the proposed 14-factor first-order structural model. Likewise, external evidence of the validity of the inventory with the variables perceived stress, level of satisfaction with life, and academic performance is provided.

The results suggest that this instrument presents a satisfactory metric quality and, therefore, it could be useful to evaluate coping strategies, which would allow further research on its incidence and consequences on health and psychological functioning.