A. J. Baglioni

The measurement of coping with stress: Construct validity of the ways of coping checklist and the cybernetic coping scale

Abstract Though numerous Measures of coping have been presented in the literature, procedures used to evaluate the construct validiy of these measures are incomplete, and few studies have examined multiple measures using data from the same sample, This study presents a comparative evaluation of the construct validity of the Ways of Coping Checklist (WCCL; Lazarus and Folkman 1984) and the Cybernetic Coping Scale (CCS; Edwards 1991), based on confirmatory factor analyses of data from 116 MBA students. Results provided moderate support fot the CCS and weak suport fot the WCCL. Recommendations for the use of the WCCL and CCS are offered, and procedures for the development of coping measures are discussed.

Examining the Relationships Among Self-Report Measures of the Type A Behavior Pattern: The Effects of Dimensionality Measurement Error, and Differences in Underlying Constructs

The most widely used self-report measures of the Type A behavior pattern (TABP) are the Bortner scale, the Framingham scale, and the Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS). Though high scores on each of these measures have been linked to the development of coronary heart disease, their intercorrelations are rather low, suggesting that they may reflect different aspects of TABP. This study indicates that the low correlations among the Bortner scale, the Framingham scale, and the JAS are due not only to differences in underlying constructs but also to measurement error and multidimensionality. These results also identify several psychometric problems, which raise serious questions regarding the use of these measures in TABP research. Suggestions for the development of new measures of TABP are offered.

Relationship Between Type A Behavior Pattern and Mental and Physical Symptoms: A Comparison of Global and Component Measures

Although the Type A behavior pattern (TABP) is typically considered a set of distinct components, most studies of TABP have used global measures, which collapse several components into a single index. These measures are inherently multidimensional and, as such, contain several conceptual and methodological problems. In this study, data from 240 executives were used to compare global and component TABP measures as predictors of mental and physical symptoms. Global measures included the Bortner scale, the Framingham scale, and the Jenkins Activity Survey. Component measures were constructed by recombining items from the global measures on the basis of results from previous confirmatory factor analyses (Edwards, Baglioni, & Cooper, 1990). Results indicate that the component measures were superior to the global measures in terms of number of relationships detected, interpretability, and total explanatory power. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Stress, Type-A, Coping, and Psychological and Physical Symptoms: A Multi-Sample Test of Alternative Models

Theoretical and empirical organizational stress research typically focuses on some combination of stress, personality factors, coping, and symptoms of ill health. Though these factors are typically considered important, there is considerable disagreement regarding the underlying process by which they are interrelated. This article discusses and empirically evaluates seven alternative conceptual models specifying the interrelationships among stress, personality (in this case, Type-A behavior pattern), coping, and psychological and physical symptoms, using data from 1468 adults in four occupations. Results generally support three models which incorporate linear effects and fail to support four models which incorporate nonlinear, i.e., interactive, effects. Implications for research are discussed.