PROGRESS IN RESOLVING PROBLEMS - A PROBLEM-FOCUSED STYLE OF COPING

This investigation reports the development of a multidimensional instr ument of stable coping styles that focused on whether one's problem-fo cused coping efforts were facilitating or inhibiting progress toward r esolution of a problem. Study 1 describes the steps in scale construct ion, including the factor analyses, normative information, and reliabi lity estimates. Study 2 provides initial estimates of the stability of the factor structure and construct, concurrent, and discriminant vali dity. Study 3 provides evidence for the test-retest stability of the P roblem-Focused Style of Coping (PF-SOC) factors, an examination of the relations between the PF-SOC factors and neuroticism as another estim ate of discriminant validity, and additional concurrent validity by co mparisons with a well-developed coping styles inventory.