Abstract
Background
Coping has traditionally been measured with inventories containing many items meant to identify specific coping strategies.
An alternative is to develop a shorter inventory that focusses on coping expectancies which may determine the extent to which
an individual attempts to cope actively.
An alternative is to develop a shorter inventory that focusses on coping expectancies which may determine the extent to which
an individual attempts to cope actively.
Purpose
This paper explores the usefulness and validity of a simplified seven-item questionnaire (Theoretically Originated Measure
of the Cognitive Activation Theory of Stress, TOMCATS) for response outcome expectancies defined either as positive (“coping”),
negative (“hopelessness”), or none (“helplessness”). The definitions are based on the Cognitive Activation Theory of Stress
(CATS; Ursin and Eriksen, Psychoneuroendocrinology, 29(5):567–92, 2004). The questionnaire was tested in two different samples. First, the questionnaire was compared with a traditional test of
coping and then tested for validity in relation to socioeconomic differences in self-reported health.
of the Cognitive Activation Theory of Stress, TOMCATS) for response outcome expectancies defined either as positive (“coping”),
negative (“hopelessness”), or none (“helplessness”). The definitions are based on the Cognitive Activation Theory of Stress
(CATS; Ursin and Eriksen, Psychoneuroendocrinology, 29(5):567–92, 2004). The questionnaire was tested in two different samples. First, the questionnaire was compared with a traditional test of
coping and then tested for validity in relation to socioeconomic differences in self-reported health.
Methods
The first study was a comparison of the brief TOMCATS with a short version of the Utrecht Coping List (UCL; Eriksen et al.,
Scand J Psychol, 38(3):175–82, 1997). Both questionnaires were tested in a population of 1,704 Norwegian municipality workers. The second study was a cross-sectional
analysis of TOMCATS, subjective and objective socioeconomic status, and health in a representative sample of the Swedish working
population in 2003–2005 (N = 11,441).
Scand J Psychol, 38(3):175–82, 1997). Both questionnaires were tested in a population of 1,704 Norwegian municipality workers. The second study was a cross-sectional
analysis of TOMCATS, subjective and objective socioeconomic status, and health in a representative sample of the Swedish working
population in 2003–2005 (N = 11,441).
Results
In the first study, the coping item in the TOMCATS questionnaire showed an expected significant positive correlation with
the UCL factors of instrumental mastery-oriented coping and negative correlations with passive and depressive scores. There
were also the expected correlations for the helplessness and hopelessness scores, but there was no clear distinction between
helplessness and hopelessness in the way they correlated with the UCL. In the second study, the coping item in TOMCATS and
the three-item helplessness scores showed clear and monotonous gradients over a subjective socioeconomic status (SES) ladder.
Positive response outcome expectancy (“coping”) was related to high subjective SES and no expectancy (“helplessness”) to low
subjective SES. In a model including age and sex, TOMCATS scores explained more variance (r
2 = 0.16) in self-reported health than both subjective (r
2 = 0.08) and objective SES (r
2 = 0.02).
the UCL factors of instrumental mastery-oriented coping and negative correlations with passive and depressive scores. There
were also the expected correlations for the helplessness and hopelessness scores, but there was no clear distinction between
helplessness and hopelessness in the way they correlated with the UCL. In the second study, the coping item in TOMCATS and
the three-item helplessness scores showed clear and monotonous gradients over a subjective socioeconomic status (SES) ladder.
Positive response outcome expectancy (“coping”) was related to high subjective SES and no expectancy (“helplessness”) to low
subjective SES. In a model including age and sex, TOMCATS scores explained more variance (r
2 = 0.16) in self-reported health than both subjective (r
2 = 0.08) and objective SES (r
2 = 0.02).
Conclusion
The brief TOMCATS questionnaire showed acceptable and significant correlations with a traditional coping questionnaire and
is sensitive enough to register systematic differences in response outcome expectancies across the socioeconomic ladder. The
results furthermore confirm that psychological and learning factors contribute to the socioeconomic gradient in health.
is sensitive enough to register systematic differences in response outcome expectancies across the socioeconomic ladder. The
results furthermore confirm that psychological and learning factors contribute to the socioeconomic gradient in health.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s12529-012-9221-x
- Authors
- Magnus Odéen, Uni Health, Uni Research, Bergen, Norway
- Hugo Westerlund, Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Töres Theorell, Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Constanze Leineweber, Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Hege R. Eriksen, Uni Health, Uni Research, Bergen, Norway
- Holger Ursin, Uni Health, Uni Research, Bergen, Norway
- Journal International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1532-7558
- Print ISSN 1070-5503