this specificity is that the output is 15 subscales, which makes for a somewhat cumbersome instrument. Some
researchers may find that this impedes its practical application in samples that are under time pressure (e.g., con-
venience sampling; some clinical groups). Fortunately, the brief COPE appears to be an adequate substitute for
the full COPE Inventory in such circumstances ( Carver, 1997 ).
BRIEF COPE INVENTORY
Instructions: We are interested in how people
respond when they confront difficult or stressful events
in their lives. There are lots of ways to try to deal with
stress. This questionnaire asks you to indicate what you
generally do and feel, when you experience stressful
events. Obviously, different events bring out somewhat
different responses, but think about what you usually
do when you are under a lot of stress.
15I usually don’t do this at all
25I usually do this a little bit
35I usually do this a medium amount
45I usually do this a lot
Active coping
I take additional action to try to get rid of
the problem.
I concentrate my efforts on doing something
about it.
I do what has to be done, one step at a time.
I take direct action to get around the problem.
Planning
I try to come up with a strategy about what to do.
I make a plan of action.
I think hard about what steps to take.
I think about how I might best handle
the problem.
Suppression of competing activities
I put aside other activities in order to concentrate
on this.
I focus on dealing with this problem, and if
necessary let other things slide a little.
I keep myself from getting distracted by other
thoughts or activities.
I try hard to prevent other things from interfering
with my efforts at dealing with this.
Restraint coping
I force myself to wait for the right time to
do something.
I hold off doing anything about it until the
situation permits.
I make sure not to make matters worse by acting
too soon.
I restrain myself from doing anything too quickly.
Seeking social support for instrumental reasons
I ask people who have had similar experiences
what they did.
I try to get advice from someone about what to do.I talk to someone to find out more about
the situation.
I talk to someone who could do something
concrete about the problem.
Seeking social support for emotional reasons
I talk to someone about how I feel.
I try to get emotional support from friends
or relatives.
I discuss my feelings with someone.
I get sympathy and understanding from someone.
Positive reinterpretation and growth
I look for something good in what is happening.
I try to see it in a different light, to make it seem
more positive.
I learn something from the experience.
I try to grow as a person as a result
of the experience.
Acceptance
I learn to live with it.
I accept that this has happening and that it can’t
be changed.
I get used to the idea that it happened.
I accept the reality of the fact that it happened.
Turning to religion
I seek God’s help.
I put my trust in God.
I try to find comfort in my religion.
I pray more than usual.
Focus on and venting of emotions
I get upset and let my emotions out.
I let my feelings out.
I feel a lot of emotional distress and
I find myself expressing those feelings a lot.
I get upset, and am really aware of it.
Denial
I refuse to believe that it has happened.
I pretend that it hasn’t really happened.
I act as though it hasn’t even happened.
I say to myself ‘this isn’t real.’
Behavioral disengagement
I give up the attempt to get what I want.
I just give up trying to reach my goal.
I admit to myself that I can’t deal with it,
and quit trying.
I reduce the amount of effort I’m putting into
solving the problem.337 TRAIT COPING MEASURES
III. EMOTION REGULATION