Home > Quizzes > Daily Functioning Quizzes ➔ COPE Inventory

COPE Scale

Carver, C. S., Scheier, M. F., & Weintraub, J. K. (1989). Assessing coping strategies: A theoretically based approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56, 267-283

We are interested in how people respond when they confront difficult or stressful events in their lives. There are lots of ways to try to deal with stress. This questionnaire asks you to indicate what you generally do and feel, when you experience stressful events. Obviously, different events bring out somewhat different responses, but think about what you usually do when you are under a lot of stress.

Then respond to each of the following items by checking off response that best describes how often you engage in the coping method in question, from "not at all" to "a lot". Please try to respond to each item separately in your mind from each other item. Choose your answers thoughtfully, and make your answers as true FOR YOU as you can. Please answer every item. There are no "right" or "wrong" answers, so choose the most accurate answer for YOU - not what you think "most people" would say or do. Indicate what YOU usually do when YOU experience a stressful event.

  1. I try to grow as a person as a result of the experience.
    Not at all           A lot

  2. I turn to work or other substitute activities to take my mind off things.
    Not at all           A lot

  3. I get upset and let my emotions out.
    Not at all           A lot

  4. I try to get advice from someone about what to do.
    Not at all           A lot

  5. I concentrate my efforts on doing something about it.
    Not at all           A lot

  6. I say to myself "this isn't real."
    Not at all           A lot

  7. I put my trust in God.
    Not at all           A lot

  8. I laugh about the situation.
    Not at all           A lot

  9. I admit to myself that I can't deal with it, and quit trying.
    Not at all           A lot

  10. I restrain myself from doing anything too quickly.
    Not at all           A lot

  11. I discuss my feelings with someone.
    Not at all           A lot

  12. I use alcohol or drugs to make myself feel better.
    Not at all           A lot

  13. I get used to the idea that it happened.
    Not at all           A lot

  14. I talk to someone to find out more about the situation.
    Not at all           A lot

  15. I keep myself from getting distracted by other thoughts or activities.
    Not at all           A lot

  16. I daydream about things other than this.
    Not at all           A lot

  17. I get upset, and am really aware of it.
    Not at all           A lot

  18. I seek God's help.
    Not at all           A lot

  19. I make a plan of action.
    Not at all           A lot

  20. I make jokes about it.
    Not at all           A lot

  21. I accept that this has happened and that it can't be changed.
    Not at all           A lot

  22. I hold off doing anything about it until the situation permits.
    Not at all           A lot

  23. I try to get emotional support from friends or relatives.
    Not at all           A lot

  24. I just give up trying to reach my goal.
    Not at all           A lot

  25. I take additional action to try to get rid of the problem.
    Not at all           A lot

  26. I try to lose myself for a while by drinking alcohol or taking drugs.
    Not at all           A lot

  27. I refuse to believe that it has happened.
    Not at all           A lot

  28. I let my feelings out.
    Not at all           A lot

  29. I try to see it in a different light, to make it seem more positive.
    Not at all           A lot

  30. I talk to someone who could do something concrete about the problem.
    Not at all           A lot

  31. I sleep more than usual.
    Not at all           A lot

  32. I try to come up with a strategy about what to do.
    Not at all           A lot

  33. I focus on dealing with this problem, and if necessary let other things slide a little.
    Not at all           A lot

  34. I get sympathy and understanding from someone.
    Not at all           A lot

  35. I drink alcohol or take drugs, in order to think about it less.
    Not at all           A lot

  36. I kid around about it.
    Not at all           A lot

  37. I give up the attempt to get what I want.
    Not at all           A lot

  38. I look for something good in what is happening.
    Not at all           A lot

  39. I think about how I might best handle the problem.
    Not at all           A lot

  40. I pretend that it hasn't really happened.
    Not at all           A lot

  41. I make sure not to make matters worse by acting too soon.
    Not at all           A lot

  42. I try hard to prevent other things from interfering with my efforts at dealing with this.
    Not at all           A lot

  43. I go to movies or watch TV, to think about it less.
    Not at all           A lot

  44. I accept the reality of the fact that it happened.
    Not at all           A lot

  45. I ask people who have had similar experiences what they did.
    Not at all           A lot

  46. I feel a lot of emotional distress and I find myself expressing those feelings a lot.
    Not at all           A lot

  47. I take direct action to get around the problem.
    Not at all           A lot

  48. I try to find comfort in my religion.
    Not at all           A lot

  49. I force myself to wait for the right time to do something.
    Not at all           A lot

  50. I make fun of the situation.
    Not at all           A lot

  51. I reduce the amount of effort I'm putting into solving the problem.
    Not at all           A lot

  52. I talk to someone about how I feel.
    Not at all           A lot

  53. I use alcohol or drugs to help me get through it.
    Not at all           A lot

  54. I learn to live with it.
    Not at all           A lot

  55. I put aside other activities in order to concentrate on this.
    Not at all           A lot

  56. I think hard about what steps to take.
    Not at all           A lot

  57. I act as though it hasn't even happened.
    Not at all           A lot

  58. I do what has to be done, one step at a time.
    Not at all           A lot

  59. I learn something from the experience.
    Not at all           A lot

  60. I pray more than usual.
    Not at all           A lot

This page was last updated on September 27th, 2017
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