28-item measure of effective and ineffective coping strategies during stressful events. ≈ 5 min to complete. Free with attribution.
Brief-COPE (Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced) is a validated clinical instrument used to assess 28-item measure of effective and ineffective coping strategies during stressful events.. It is most often used for 28-item measure of effective and ineffective coping strategies during stressful events.. Typical administration time is ≈ 5 min.
Source / attribution: Free to use with citation
28-item measure of effective and ineffective coping strategies during stressful events. Brief-COPE is part of standard practice in this setting because it provides a structured, replicable assessment that can be tracked over time and compared across patients or visits.
Like all screening or assessment instruments, Brief-COPE is a structured aid — not a diagnostic test in isolation. Results should be interpreted alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Where a score crosses an actionable threshold, the next step is typically a more detailed clinical evaluation rather than a definitive diagnosis.
14 subscales (2 items each) scored 1-4. Subscale range 2-8. Can group into adaptive and maladaptive coping.
Scoring notes: 14 subscales (2 items each) scored 1-4. Subscale range 2-8. Can group into adaptive and maladaptive coping.
Psychometric figures are drawn from the validation literature and may vary across clinical populations and translations.
If Brief-COPE doesn't fit your context, related instruments in coping include:
| Scale | Measures | Items | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRS | 6-item measure of the ability to bounce back or recover from stress. | 6 | ≈ 1 min |
| CD-RISC | 25-item measure of resilience to stress with five factor structure. | 25 | ≈ 5 min |
| CD-RISC-10 | 10-item brief version of CD-RISC for screening resilience. | 10 | ≈ 2 min |
| PHQ-9 | Severity of depression | 9 | ≈ 3 minutes |
| GAD-7 | Severity of generalized anxiety | 7 | ≈ 2 minutes |
| AUDIT | 10-item WHO screening tool for hazardous alcohol consumption and dependence. | 10 | ≈ 3 min |
| CHA2DS2-VASc | Annual stroke risk in non-valvular atrial fibrillation | 8 | — |
| Glasgow Coma Scale | Level of consciousness after head injury | 3 | — |
Brief-COPE (Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced) is a validated instrument that assesses 28-item measure of effective and ineffective coping strategies during stressful events.. Its primary clinical use is 28-item measure of effective and ineffective coping strategies during stressful events..
Brief-COPE typically takes ≈ 5 min to administer. Time can vary slightly depending on whether it is self-administered or clinician-led.
Brief-COPE has reported Cronbach's α of 0.9 in validation samples and test–retest reliability of 0.85. Comprehensive coping assessment; 14 distinct coping strategies.
Brief-COPE is free to use with attribution. Free to use with citation
Carver, C. S. (1997). You want to measure coping but your protocol's too long. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 4(1), 92-100.
No. Brief-COPE is a structured assessment aid. A score is one input alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Treatment decisions should never rest on a screening score alone.
Brief-COPE is supported by the following peer-reviewed sources: