Assessing Coping with Stress Self-Efficacy: English Validation of the CSSES

BackgroundSpecific self-efficacy for coping with stress refers to the judgments regarding the personal resources aimed at effectively facing taxing conditions. Coping self-efficacy is essential in stress-related issues as well as for increasing coping skills.ObjectiveTo cross-validate the psychometric properties of the Coping with Stress Self-Efficacy Scale (CSSES) among English speakers in order to complement previous findings with the original Spanish version.MethodsA convenience, population-based sample of adult women and men from the UK answered the CSSES and another questionnaire assessing self-efficacy beliefs for the use of specific strategies for coping with stress.ResultsThe CSSES showed adequate reliability and factorial and concurrent validity. Confirmatory factor analysis corroborates those results. A few weaknesses were detected and some solutions are proposed.ConclusionsGiven that the CSSES is brief and easy to use as well as adequate psychometrically, it seems to be an appropriate instrument for evaluating coping with stress self-efficacy in both research and clinical contexts.