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Psychometric Properties of a Hurricane Coping Self-Efficacy Measure

  • Published:
Journal of Traumatic Stress

Abstract

This brief report describes the psychometric properties of an instrument designed to measure Hurricane Coping Self-Efficacy (HCSE). Survivors of Hurricane Andrew (n = 165) and Hurricane Opal (n = 63) completed the HCSE and assessments of optimism, social support, distress, and resource loss. Principal components factor analyses revealed a unidimensional structure for the HCSE. Internal consistency of the HCSE was strong. In both samples, HCSE was positively associated with optimism and social support, but negatively associated with general psychological distress, trauma related distress, and resource loss. Finally, hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that the HCSE explained a significant amount of experimental variance for intrusive thoughts and avoidance after controlling for social support, lost resources, and optimism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80933-7150

    Charles C. Benight & Robert L. Durham

  2. Department of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, 33124

    Gail Ironson

Authors
  1. Charles C. Benight
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  2. Gail Ironson
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  3. Robert L. Durham
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Benight, C.C., Ironson, G. & Durham, R.L. Psychometric Properties of a Hurricane Coping Self-Efficacy Measure. J Trauma Stress 12, 379–386 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024792913301

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024792913301

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