Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2025

Assessment of Stress Effects on Cognitive Flexibility using an Operant Strategy Shifting Paradigm
Published on: May 4, 2020
Flexibility in Coping with Stress Questionnaire: structure and psychometric properties
Małgorzata A Basińska1, Agnieszka Kruczek1, Agata Borzyszkowska1
1Faculty of Psychology, Kazimierz Wielki University, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Background:
Flexibility in coping relies on applying a coping strategy that is appropriate to the circumstances. Individuals who are flexible in coping exhibit sensitivity to subtle signals sent by the environment. Therefore, they are able to adjust their behaviour accordingly and function in a more adaptive manner.
Participants And Procedure:
The study included N = 1535 participants. The following methods were used: the Flexibility in Coping with Stress Questionnaire (FCSQ-14) and the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI).
Results:
The Flexibility in Coping with Stress Questionnaire measures flexibility as a feature of the process of coping with which an individual applies coping strategies. The Flexibility in Coping with Stress Questionnaire is an accurate and reliable method of measuring coping flexibility and three of its subscales: the Repertoire of coping strategies, the Changeability of their use, and Reflexivity.
Conclusions:
The Flexibility in Coping with Stress Questionnaire examines three subscales of flexibility, namely, Repertoire of coping strategies, Changeability, and Reflexivity. This measurement is accurate and reliable. The questionnaire is applied to the study of persons exposed to severe or chronic stress at work, when we want to assess the individual's ability to change their functioning in a stressful situation. It can be used to examine healthy and somatically ill people, in the area of research and clinical diagnosis.
Related Concept Videos
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques II
Type A Personality: Driven and Easily Stressed
Individuals with Type A personalities are often highly competitive and ambitious and operate with a strong sense of urgency. Commonly labeled as...
Coping Strategies: Problem Focused
For example, consider a student who struggles to understand their...
Psychological Responses to Stress
Coping Strategies: Emotion Focused
Self-Report Tests of Personality
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...

