The Spanish version of the COPE-48: Assessing coping strategies in psychiatric outpatients

© 2018 by Sociedad Chilena de Psicología Clínica. Introduction: In clinical settings, the COPE questionnaire allows to assess the strategies people use to cope with stressful situations and therefore, if needed, to modify them through psychological treatment. Objective: The aim of this study is to offer to the Spanish-speaking scientific community the Spanish version of the COPE-48 along with the psychometric properties obtained in a sample of adults with psychopathology. Material and Methods: The sample consisted of 301 participants (62.5% women). Results: The average internal consistency of the scales was 0.81. Our results showed a gender pattern in the use of the coping strategies. Conclusions: In clinical settings, the administration of the COPE-48 allows a quick, easy and accurate assessment of the most frequently used strategies to cope with highly demanding situations. This knowledge makes possible to intervene with psychological treatment and whenever appropriate to establish, enhance or minimize the strategies needed to face difficult situations.