Hierarchical dimensions of coping styles: A study conducted with Turkish university students

GENÇÖZ F., GENÇÖZ T., BOZO Ö.

SOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND PERSONALITY, vol.34, no.5, pp.525-534, 2006 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 34 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2006
  • Doi Number: 10.2224/sbp.2006.34.5.525
  • Journal Name: SOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND PERSONALITY
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.525-534
  • Keywords: ways of coping, problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, seeking social support, higher order factors, reliability, validity, BEHAVIOR
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

An empirical examination was carried out of the hierarchical dimensions of coping styles in a Turkish sample. Ways of coping data were collected from 194 university students, subjected to factor analysis and 5 factors were obtained. These factors were subjected to second-order factor analysis which revealed 3 main dimensions. As predicted the first two dimensions were problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping. The third dimension consisted of items related to seeking social support, implying the presence and importance of an indirect coping style. In addition to construct validity, Guttman split-half reliability and criterion validity of these three higher order factors revealed good reliability and validity outcomes. It was also emphasized that these 3 higher order factors constituted independent dimensions of coping styles. Implications of the results are discussed.