CRITERION VALIDITY OF A COPING MEASURE

A paucity of evidence for the validity of coping questionnaires prompt ed investigation of the Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI; Amirkhan, 1990 ), a self-report measure of three fundamental modes of coping that has already demonstrated considerable psychometric strength. Three tests of criterion-related validity were performed, with variations in both the types of stressors and respondents sampled. In the first, CSI scor es were found to correspond to coping choices made under the threat of electric shock in a laboratory. In the second and third, the CSI corr ectly identified coping patterns associated with participation in educ ational and therapeutic programs in more natural settings. Results con firmed the validity and wide applicability of the CSI and suggested av enues for future basic and applied research.