coping was positively correlated with anxiety ( r5.12), replicating the findings among men in Endler and
Parker’s (1990) original analysis. In contrast, task-orientated coping was negatively associated with depression
(r52 .20) and anxiety ( r52 .12), replicating Endler and Parker’s findings among women.
Location
Endler, N., & Parker, J. (1990). Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS): Manual . Toronto: Multi-Health
Systems.
Results and Comments
Overall, research using the CISS supports the notion that task-oriented coping is associated with greater well-
being and positive adjustment to stress, while emotion-oriented and avoidance-oriented coping tend to be associ-
ated with greater distress and maladaptive adjustment. These associations have been found across a wide variety
of stressful circumstances, including among people coping with academic worries ( Zeidner, 1994 ), eating disor-
ders (Koff & Sangani, 1998), chronic disease (Hurt et al., 2011), desire to quit smoking ( Naquin & Gilbert, 1996 ),
and insomnia ( Morin, Rodrigue, & Ivers, 2003 ).
The main strength of the CISS lies in its robust psychometric properties, rather than its theoretical novelty. The
factor structure has been replicated in an impressive array of populations ( Cosway et al., 2007; Furukawa,
Suzuki-Moor, & Hamanaka, 1993 ; Hurt et al., 2011; McWilliams et al., 2003; Pedrabissi & Santinello, 1994;
Rafnsson et al., 2006 ), yet the instrument is not as widely used as some others in the field. The CISS was devel-
oped mainly from items adopted from previous instruments, and echoes the basic dimensions of other measures
(e.g., Folkman & Lazarus, 1980 ). As a result, the measure has gained less traction in the literature than might
have been expected based on its impressive psychometric pedigree.
COPING INVENTORY FOR STRESSFUL SITUATIONS
(SAMPLE ITEMS)
Task Coping
Schedule my time better
Think about how I solved similar problems
Analyze the problem before reacting
Come up with several different solutions
to the problem
Emotion Coping
Preoccupied with aches and pains
Tell myself that it is not really happening to me
Blame myself for not knowing what to do
Worry about what I am going to doAvoidance Coping
Go out for a snack or meal
Watch TV
Try to be with other people
Phone a friend
Source : Endler, N.S., & Parker, J.D.A. (1994).
Assessment of multidimensional coping: Task, emo-
tion, and avoidance strategies. Psychological
Assessment, 6 ,5 0/C060.
Copyright r1994 by the American Psychological
Association. Reproduced with permission.
COPE Inventory (COPE)
(Carver et al., 1989 ).
Variable
The COPE is a measure of dispositional tendencies to adopt particular coping styles.
Description
Carver et al. (1989) constructed the COPE to assess stable individual differences in coping, partly in reaction to
claims by Folkman and Lazarus (1980, 1985) ;Lazarus & Folkman, 1984 that coping is a dynamic and malleable
process. The authors argued that it was important to consider the personality characteristics that might predis-
pose individuals towards a particular way of coping with stress.334 12. MEASURES OF COPING FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING
III. EMOTION REGULATION