The coexistence of coping resources and specific coping styles in stress: evidence from full information item bifactor analysis.
BACKGROUND
Knowledge of coping styles is useful in clinical diagnosis and suggesting specific therapeutic interventions. However, the latent structures and relationships between different aspects of coping styles have not been fully clarified. A full information item bifactor model will be beneficial to future research.


OBJECTIVE
One goal of this study is identification of the best fit statistical model of coping styles. A second goal is entails extended analyses of latent relationships among different coping styles. In general, such research should offer greater understanding of the mechanisms of coping styles and provide insights into coping with stress.


METHODS
Coping Styles Questionnaire (CSQ) and Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) were administrated to officers suffering from military stress. Confirmatory Factor Analyses was performed to indentify the best fit model. A hierarchical item response model (bifactor model) was adopted to analyze the data. Additionally, correlations among coping styles and self-efficacy were compared using both original and bifactor models.


RESULTS
Results showed a bifactor model best fit the data. Item loadings on general and specific factors varied among different coping styles. All items loaded significantly on the general factor, and most items also had moderate to large loadings on specific factors. The correlation between coping styles and self-efficacy and the correlation among different coping styles changed significantly after extracting the general factor of coping stress using bifactor analysis. This was seen in changes from positive (r = 0.714, p<0.01) correlation to negative (r =  -0.335, p<0.01) and also from negative (r =  -0.296, p<0.01) to positive (r = 0.331, p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results reveal that coping styles have a bifactor structure. They also provide direct evidence of coexisting coping resources and styles. This further clarifies that dimensions of coping styles should include coping resources and specific coping styles. This finding has implications for measurement of coping mechanisms, health maintenance, and stress reduction.
Department of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Jiaxi
J
Zhang
Xi'an Mental Health Center, Xi'an, China.
Meng
M
Cui
Department of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Wei
W
Wang
Department of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Huijie
H
Lu
Department of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China; Foreign Language Teaching and Researching Office of Basic Education Department, Chongqing Communication Institute, Chongqing, China.
Qing
Q
Wu
Department of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Xia
X
Zhu
Department of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Danmin
D
Miao
Department of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Yan
Y
Zhang
Department of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Xi
X
Feng
Department of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Wei
W
Xiao
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011594:Psychometrics; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult