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Evaluating the KidCOPE for Children in Active Duty Military Families

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Abstract

The KidCOPE is a widely used measure designed to examine how children cope in the face of stressful events. The current study aimed to replicate the factor structure of the KidCOPE found in four prior studies. KidCOPE responses from children of military families (2256 children, ages 7–12 years, 47.9% female, Age M = 8.90, SD = 1.62) enrolled in the Families OverComing Under Stress (FOCUS) at baseline were used. No prior factor structure could be replicated. The sample was then split, and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. A 2-factor model including factors for generally positive and negative coping was identified; but not confirmed. Overall, this study supports prior research suggesting limitations of the KidCOPE as a valid measure of coping style.

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Funding

The FOCUS program was implemented through the leadership of United States Department of Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) through contract to UCLA #N0018909-C-Z058. The evaluation study is also supported through funding from the Fusenot Foundation to UCLA Semel Institute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA

    Stephanie M. Ernestus, Ruth Ellingsen, Kristin Gray, Hilary Aralis, Patricia Lester & Norweeta G. Milburn

  2. Department of Psychology, Stonehill College, 320 Washington Street, North Easton, MA, 02357, USA

    Stephanie M. Ernestus

  3. Department of Psychology, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA

    Ruth Ellingsen

  4. Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, 650 Charles E Young Dr S, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Hilary Aralis

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  1. Stephanie M. Ernestus
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  2. Ruth Ellingsen
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  4. Hilary Aralis
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  5. Patricia Lester
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  6. Norweeta G. Milburn
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Correspondence to Stephanie M. Ernestus.

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Ernestus, S.M., Ellingsen, R., Gray, K. et al. Evaluating the KidCOPE for Children in Active Duty Military Families. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 54, 76–83 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-021-01226-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-021-01226-2

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