The COPE inventory: psychometric properties, relationship with big five and hopelessness, and coping profiles in Singapore

Abstract

Current literature yields a plethora of ways to cope with life's stressors - one of the most established measures in the field, the COPE Inventory, finds fifteen unique strategies of coping. However, coping is a multi-faceted endeavour that is as individualised as it is complex. As such, there is a need to investigate coping in relation to other psychological variables of an individual's life. While past studies have shown the utility of the COPE Inventory as a psychometric tool; examined how psychological variables such as personality predict the choice of coping strategies; and established coping profiles, their findings have largely been applicable only to Western contexts that the studies have been based in. Hence, the current study aims to establish the utility and investigate the psychometric properties of the COPE Inventory; conduct a comprehensive examination of the relationship between coping and the Big Five personality traits and hopelessness; as well as to explore coping profiles, in a Singaporean context. In total, self-report questionnaire data collected from 761 job applicants in Singapore uniformed organisations were analysed via confirmatory, exploratory, correlational and cluster methodologies. Based on the results, the study proposes that a two-factor model be adopted for the COPE Inventory for local use. Additionally, evidence was found for cross-cultural similarity for the relationships between coping, the Big Five personality traits, and hopelessness. Finally, contrary to Western studies, two coping profiles - average and healthy copers - were identified in current local sample. The implications for theory, practice and further research are discussed in detail.