Screening and Assessment Tools for Child Welfare

Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences (A-COPE)

Assessment Rating:
NR - Not able to be Rated

Brief Description:

Purpose: To measure behaviors adolescents find helpful in coping with problem situations, including ventilating feelings, seeking diversions, developing self-reliance, developing social support, solving family problems, avoiding problems, seeking spiritual support, investing in close friends, seeking professional support, engaging in demanding activity, being humorous, and relaxing.

Target Population: Youth who are 11-18 years.

Intended Users: Family counselors, school counselors.

Time to Administer: 54 items, approximately 10 minutes.

Completed By: Youth self-report.

Modalities Available: Paper and pencil.

Scoring Information: For scoring information please contact: hamiltonmccubbin@earthlink.net

Languages Available: English, Arabic, French, Spanish, and Swedish. The rating for the measure is based solely on the English version of the measure.

Training Requirements for Intended Users: None.

Availability: The scale can be downloaded free from the Center for HIV Identification, Prevention and Treatment Services' website

Summary of Relevant Psychometric Research

Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences (A-COPE) has been reviewed and it was determined that this assessment lacks the type of published, peer-reviewed research that meets the CEBC criteria to be rated. Therefore, the assessment has been given the classification of "NR - Not able to be Rated." Adequate published peer-reviewed studies demonstrating reliability and/or validity are not yet available for this measure. For more information on all of the Assessment Ratings, please click here.

Patterson, J. M., & McCubbin, H. I. (1987). Adolescent coping style and behaviors: Conceptualization and measurement. Journal of Adolescence, 10, 163-186.

Sample:
Participants: 30 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students 11 to 18 years old in three separate samples of 30, 467, and 709 students.
Race/Ethnicity: Not given.

Summary:
The first sample was used to generate 95 coping behavior items for the original scale, using a structured interview. Factor analysis of the scale items yielded 12 factors. Girls appeared to show a broader range of coping behaviors than boys.

Copeland, E. P., & Hess, R. S. (1995). Differences in young adolescents' coping atrategies based on gender and ethnicity. Journal of Early Adolescence, 15(2), 203-219.

Sample:
Participants: 244 students. Average age was 14.4 years.
Race/Ethnicity: 77.46% White, 22.54% Hispanic

Summary:
Factor analysis supported a 13-factor structure for the scale. Girls were found to use proactive behaviors, catharsis, positive imagery, and self-reliance more than boys. Boys were found to use avoidance, physical diversions, and passive diversions more often. Hispanic students were more reliant on a social network and spiritual support.

Developers:

Joan M. Patterson, PhD and Hamilton I. McCubbin, PhD

Contact Information:

Company: The Association for the Psychiatric Study of Adolescents
Name: Hamilton I. McCubbin
Email: hamiltonmccubbin@earthlink.net

Reviewed: June 2009