[Validation of a scale measuring coping with extreme risks].
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to validate, in Mexico, the French coping scale "Echelle Toulousaine de Coping".


METHODS
In the fall of 2001, the scale questionnaire was applied to 209 subjects living in different areas of Mexico, exposed to five different types of extreme natural or industrial risks. The discriminatory capacity of the items, as well as the factorial structure and internal consistency of the scale, were analyzed using Mann-Whitney's U test, principal components factorial analysis, and Cronbach's alpha.


RESULTS
The final scale was composed of 26 items forming two groups: active coping and passive coping. Internal consistency of the instrument was high, both in the total sample and in the subsample of natural and industrial risks.


CONCLUSIONS
The coping scale is reliable and valid for the Mexican population. The English version of this paper is available at: http://www.insp.mx/salud/index.html.
López-Vázquez
Esperanza
E
Departamento de Psicología de la Universidad de las Américas-Puebla, Cholula, Puebla, México. espelv@mail.udlap.mx
Marván
María Luisa
ML
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Validación de una escala de afrontamiento frente a riesgos extremos.