Psychometric Properties of the Measure of Adolescent Coping Strategies (MACS)

Title
Psychometric Properties of the Measure of Adolescent Coping Strategies (MACS)
Publication Date
2014
Author(s)
Sveinbjornsdottir, Sigrun
Thorsteinsson, Einar B
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2065-1989
Email: ethorste@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:ethorste
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Scientific Research Publishing, Inc
Place of publication
United States of America
DOI
10.4236/psych.2014.52022
UNE publication id
une:14755
Abstract
This paper presents the collective results of three independent studies in two countries, Australia and Iceland, aimed to develop a psychometrically sound adolescent coping scale, the Measure of Adolescent Coping Strategies (MACS). Study 1, relying on 3034 Australian and 6908 Icelandic adolescents, revealed five conceptually distinct first-order factors. Two second-order factors (dimensions) were derived: (a) adaptive coping encompassing stoicism/distraction, seeking social support, and self-care, and (b) maladaptive coping encompassing acting out and rumination. This factor structure was supported by multi-sample confirmatory factor analysis (MSCFA) across age, gender and national samples. Study 1 established evidence of discriminant validity. In Study 2, including 534 Australian adolescents, the factor structure was verified through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Studies 1 and 2 provided evidence of construct validity. Study 3, employing 118 Icelandic adolescents, established 16-week test-retest reliability and evidence of convergent validity. Therefore, the MACS is a short, reliable and valid scale to measure adolescent coping, thus enabling clinicians, researchers and educators to improve their practice when conducting research and guiding adolescents in developing effective coping methods.
Link
Citation
Psychology, 5(2), p. 142-147
ISSN
2152-7199
2152-7180
Start page
142
End page
147

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