Effect of innaplicable items in the factor structure of the spanish version of the ways of coping questionnaire

RICHAUD DE MINZI, M. C.; SACCHI, C.

PSYCHOLOGICAL REPORTS

Amsci

Año: 2001 vol. 88 p. 115 - 122

0033-2941

The aim of this work was to examine how the presence of inapplica- ble iterns might change the factor structure of the 1984 Ways of Coping Questionnaire by Lazarus and Folkman. The Spanish version of the Ways of Coping Question- naire was administered to 156 subjects with university degrees. The 95 women and 61 men whose ages were from 18 and 45 years (M =27.8, SD= 12.1) were of middle socioeconomic status. AlI were residents of Buenos Aires. To study whether relevant items modify the factor structure of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire, rwo factor analyses were carried out, one with items rated as not relevant (Item Mean) and the other with the same items rated as not chosen. In both factor analyses, principal axes rnerhod and oblimin rotation were performed, and five factors were considered. Congruence indexes were perforrned. Analysis showed that not choosing an item beca use ir does not coincide with one's behavior or ideas is not the same as not selecting that item beca use it does not apply to the current threatening situation. Lack of discrimination berween situations when analyzing data leads to a distorted interpretation of the way in which the subject actually behaves or copes with the situation.