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Coping Strategies Scale for Cancer Patients: Development of a Measurement

Abstract

This study aimed to develop a scale to evaluate coping strategies in cancer patients. Initially, 112 items were created and subjected to theoretical analysis by expert judges, followed by a trial with the target population. After these steps, 42 items remained and were answered by 392 cancer patients. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to assess the scale’s Internal structure validity. The resulting Coping Strategies Scale for Cancer Patients (E3PO) consists of 20 items grouped into two factors, explaining 36.05% of the total variance. The first factor, Treatment Engagement, includes 14 items (with a composite reliability of .83), which measure commitment to addressing the stressor. The second factor, Emotional Reactions, includes six items (with a composite reliability of .75) that evaluate coping based on the expression of negative emotions coming from the stressor. In the future, E3PO may help in the development of therapeutic plans and the evaluation of behavioral interventions aimed at enhancing coping strategies among cancer patients.

Keywords:
coping; neoplasms; psychometry

Universidade de São Francisco, Programa de Pós-Graduação Stricto Sensu em Psicologia R. Waldemar César da Silveira, 105, Vl. Cura D'Ars (SWIFT), Campinas - São Paulo, CEP 13045-510, Telefone: (19)3779-3771 - Campinas - SP - Brazil
E-mail: revistapsico@usf.edu.br