Adapting the Jalowiec coping scale in Norwegian adult psoriasis patients

The aim of the present study was to adapt the Jalowiec Coping Scale (JCS) t o accommodate adult patients with psoriasis. The sample comprised 334 patie nts who were treated consecutively at three dermatology departments in the eastern Norway. A total number of 273 hospitalised patients (20) and out-pa tients (80) completed the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 82. Th e study assessed the reliability and the face, content and construct validi ty of the Norwegian version of the JCS. In addition, researchers investigat ed the most frequently used/effective coping strategies, the relationships between demographic/clinical variables, self-reported physical symptoms and the use of coping strategies. The results (correlational coefficients and interitem alpha s) indicated that there was an overlap in substantive conte nt among the original JCS' subscales, due either to measurement error (bias or response style) and/or because the patients in the present study were i n a demanding situation in relation to their disease, which may have activa ted a variety of coping strategies. A factor analysis resulted in a three-f actor solution (confrontive problem-solving, normalising/optimistic and com bined emotive) with satisfactory internal consistency. This factor solution comprised 31 items with an explained variance of 37 of the total pool of i tems. The most frequently used and effective coping strategies could be lab elled as emotion-focused (optimistic/maintain control). Significant correla tions were found between age, hospital setting, self-reported physical symp toms and different coping subscales. However, further studies are needed to assess the validity and reliability of the JCS among different population groups in Norway.