Developing a measurement model for coping research in early adolescence

The purpose of this study was the development of a measurement model for use in coping research in early adolescence. The results from a sample of 359 fifth- and sixth-grade children provided support for measures of children's coping. Two higher order coping factors, productive and nonproductive coping, were found by using domain-representative parcels of coping strategies in confirmatory factor analyses. Parceling of random items found support for the unidimensional constructs of coping efficacy and family support. A four-factor measurement model incorporating coping efficacy, perceived family support, and the two higher order factors of productive and nonproductive coping behaviors was established. Implications of the finding of relative independence of the productive and nonproductive coping factors are discussed in terms of children's coping research.