Responses to stress in adolescence: measurement of coping and involuntary stress responses.
The development of a measure of coping and involuntary stress responses in adolescence is described. The Responses to Stress Questionnaire (RSQ) reflects a conceptual model that includes volitional coping efforts and involuntary responses to specific stressful events or specified domains of stress. The psychometric characteristics of the RSQ were examined across 4 domains of stress in 3 samples of adolescents and parent reports obtained in 2 samples. The factor structure of the RSQ was tested and replicated with an adequate degree of fit using confirmatory factor analysis across 3 stressors in 2 samples. Internal consistency and retest reliability for the 5 factors were adequate to excellent. Concurrent validity was established through correlations with another measure of coping, heart rate reactivity, and correlations of self- and parent-reports. Significant correlations with both adolescents' and parents' reports of internalizing and externalizing symptoms were consistent with hypotheses.
Connor-Smith
J K
JK
Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington 05405, USA.
Compas
B E
BE
Wadsworth
M E
ME
Thomsen
A H
AH
Saltzman
H
H
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001143:Arousal; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology