Brief COPE Inventory
The Brief COPE Inventory was developed to assess a broad range of coping responses. The inventory includes some responses that are expected to be dysfunctional, as well as some that are expected to be functional.
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Legal
License
Made available for use in research and teaching applications. All are available without charge and without any need for permission.
Attribution
Carver, C. S. (1997). You want to measure coping but your protocol’s too long: Consider the Brief COPE. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 4, 92-100.
Use
Import this questionnaire into your chosen impact tool:
Questionnaire
Instructions
There are many ways to try to deal with problems, these items ask what you've been doing to cope. Each item says something about a particular way of coping, to what extent you've been doing what the item says. Don't answer on the basis of whether it seems to be working or not — just whether or not you're doing it. Try to rate each item separately in your mind from the others. Make your answers as true FOR YOU as you can.
Scale
| I haven't been doing this at all | I've been doing this a little bit | I've been doing this a medium amount | I've been doing this a lot |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Questions
1. I've been turning to work or other activities to take my mind off things
2. I've been concentrating my efforts on doing something about the situation I'm in
3. I've been saying to myself "this isn't real."
4. I've been using alcohol or other drugs to make myself feel better
5. I've been getting emotional support from others
6. I've been giving up trying to deal with it
7. I've been taking action to try to make the situation better
8. I've been refusing to believe that it has happened
9. I've been saying things to let my unpleasant feelings escape
10. I’ve been getting help and advice from other people
11. I've been using alcohol or other drugs to help me get through it
12. I've been trying to see it in a different light, to make it seem more positive
13. I’ve been criticizing myself
14. I've been trying to come up with a strategy about what to do
15. I've been getting comfort and understanding from someone
16. I've been giving up the attempt to cope
17. I've been looking for something good in what is happening
18. I've been making jokes about it
19. I've been doing something to think about it less, such as going to movies, watching TV, reading, daydreaming, sleeping, or shopping
20. I've been accepting the reality of the fact that it has happened
21. I've been expressing my negative feelings
22. I've been trying to find comfort in my religion or spiritual beliefs
23. I’ve been trying to get advice or help from other people about what to do
24. I've been learning to live with it
25. I've been thinking hard about what steps to take
26. I’ve been blaming myself for things that happened
27. I've been praying or meditating
28. I've been making fun of the situation
Scores
Self-distraction
Active coping
Denial
Substance use
Use of emotional support
Use of instrumental support
Behavioral disengagement
Venting
Positive reframing
Planning
Humor
Acceptance
Religion
Self-blame