International Medical Journal Vol. 18, No. 1, pp.

29 - 33 , March 2011

29

HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT

The Validity of the Malay Brief Cope in Identifying

Coping Strategies among Adolescents in
Secondary School
Muhamad Saiful Bahri Yusoff
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the construct validity and the internal consistency of the Malay version Brief
COPE among secondary school adolescents hence in the future it could be used as a valid and reliable instrument to identify their coping strategies
Methods: The original Brief COPE was translated into Malay language by previous study. It comprised of
28 items with 14 coping strategies. It was administered to a total of 100 secondary school adolescents. Data
was analysed using Statistical Package Social Sciences (SPSS) version 12. Factor analysis was applied to test
construct validity of the Malay Brief COPE. Reliability analysis was applied to test internal consistency of the
Malay Brief COPE.
Results: 90 participants participated in this study. The total Cronbachs alpha value of the Malay version
Brief COPE was 0.83. Most of the coping strategies showed acceptable internal consistency as having
Cronbachs alpha values more than 0.5. Most of the items were loaded nicely according to the coping strategies.
Conclusion: This study showed that the Malay Brief COPE had good psychometric value. It is a valid and
reliable instrument in identifying coping strategies of secondary school adolescent.

KEY WORDS
validity, reliability, secondary school students, coping, factor analysis

INTRODUCTION
The literature on stress and coping has grown enormously over the past three decades. Under distress, some
people become distressed or perform poorly, whereas others remain resilient1). Coping theorists assume that these
outcomes result from peoples coping efforts to alter the
stressful situation or to regulate their emotional reactions2-4).
Besides affecting psychological distress, stress also can
affect peoples performance in a stressful situation.
Although several clear principles have been derived from
this body of research as a whole, there is near-agreement
that many questions remain to be answered. Thus, research
into the coping process continues.
Handling stressful situation or stressor is depending on
how person cope with it. Researchers often distinguish two
major types of coping efforts, problem-focused and emotionfocused coping2-6). Problem-focused coping is aimed at prob-

lem solving or doing something to alter the source of stress.

Emotion-focused coping is aimed at reducing or managing
the emotional distress that is associated with the situation.
Although most stressors elicit both types of coping, problemfocused coping tends to predominate when people feel that
something constructive can be done, whereas emotionfocused coping tends to predominate when people feel that
the stressor is something that must be endured2-6).
It is noteworthy that several measures of coping currently are in widespread use, such as Ways of Coping,
Multidimensional Coping Inventory, the Coping Strategies
Inventory, and the COPE7). Although the various measures
differ from one another in other respects, they all assess
both problem focused coping responses and responses
directed to aspects of the situation other than the stressor
per se7). The measures also typically assess coping responses that seem potentially dysfunctional as well as adaptive
responses. Studies using the various measures have shown
that there is merit in examining both aspects of coping2-6).

Received on March 25, 2010 and accepted on May 17, 2010

Medical Education Department of School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
Correspondence to: Muhamad Saiful Bahri Yusoff
(e-mail: msaiful@kb.usm.my)

C 2011 Japan International Cultural Exchange Foundation

30

Yusoff M. S. B.

Carver et al.5) have proposed 15 dimensions of coping:

five dimensions assess conceptually distinct aspects of
problem-focused coping (active coping, planning, suppression of competing activities, restraint coping, seeking of
instrumental social support); five dimensions assess aspects
of what might be viewed as emotion focused coping (seeking of emotional social support, positive reinterpretation,
acceptance, denial, turning to religion); and five dimensions assess coping responses that perhaps are less useful
(focus on and venting of emotions (venting), behavioral
disengagement, mental disengagement (self-distraction),
humor, substance use). Each of coping dimensions were
described extensively in Carver et al., reports5).
The original COPE consist of 60 items with 15 coping
dimension 1), however, in 1997 Carver 6) has proposed a
shorter version of the COPE which was known as the Brief
COPE consists of 14 scales and each scale comprises of
two items. Two scales from the full measure were omitted
from the brief form because they had not proven useful in
previous work. Three other scales were refocused slightly
because they had proven to be problematic in previous
work. One scale - not part of the original COPE was added,
because of evidence of the importance of this response6). It
is worth to highlight that the COPE has been used in a
number of health-relevant studies. The available evidence
suggests that many of the coping responses that it assesses
are important in the coping process and some are predictive
of prospective physiological effect7).
This present study is an attempt to investigate the validity and reliability of the Malay Brief COPE 8) among secondary school adolescent, hence in the future it could be
used as a valid and reliable instrument to identify coping
strategies of the adolescents.

pate in this study. Proper instructions were given before the

administration of the scale. The subjects were asked to
respond to all the statements and no time limit was
imposed. During the time of administration the investigator
gave proper assistance and directions whenever necessary.

METHODS

Factor analysis

The Malay brief COPE

The original Brief COPE items were translated into
Malay language using forward and backward translation
methods by previous study 8). The Malay Brief COPE is a
self-reporting questionnaire and it consists of 28 statements
that assesses on a particular way of coping. The Brief COPE
measures how frequent person has been doing what the item
says to cope with stressful situations in daily life. The items
of the questionnaire were rated under 4 categories of
responses; saya tidak melakukan ini langsung (I havent
been doing this at all), saya melakukan ini kadang-kala
sahaja (I have been doing this for a little bit), saya agak
kerap melakukan ini (I have been doing this a medium
amount), saya sangat kerap melakukan ini (I have been
doing this a lot). The recommended scoring method was the
least frequency of doing answers score 1 and the most frequency of doing answers score 4 - i.e. 1-2-3-45,9). The minimum and maximum Brief COPE total scores were 2 and 8
respectively. Similar scoring method was used in this study.
The 28 items of the Malays Brief COPE is shown in table 1.
Validation study
100 secondary school students were selected to partici-

Collection of data
Convenient sampling method was used in selecting participants to participate in this study. The investigator
obtained permission and clearance from the School of
Medical Sciences and Human Ethical Committee of
Universiti Sains Malaysia. The investigator requested 100
secondary school students to fill in the questionnaire.
Completion of the questionnaire was voluntary and would
not affect the students progress in the school. A face-to-face
session was held with the students. Data was collected by
guided self-administered questionnaire. The time taken by
the students for filling in the questionnaire was around 15
minutes. The questionnaires were collected on the same day.
Reliability analysis
Reliability analysis was done to determine the reliability of the questionnaire. Internal consistency of the items
was measured by using Cronbachs alpha coefficient. For
an estimation of reliability, statistical reliability of individual items and coping strategies was done. The items of the
Malay Brief COPE were considered to represent a measure
of acceptable internal consistency if the total alpha value
was more than 0.510).

Collected data was analyzed using Statistical Packages

Social Sciences (SPSS) version 12. Factor Analysis was
done to determine the construct validity of the Malay Brief
COPE. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test and Bartletts test
of sphericity was applied to measure the sampling adequacy10). The sample was considered adequate if i) KMO value
was more than 0.5 and ii) Bartletts test was significant (pvalue less than 0.05). Principal Component Analysis (PCA)
method was applied in extraction of components.
Components with Eigenvalues of over 1 were retained as
components. With the assumption of all items were allowed
to correlate with each other, Promax rotation was applied in
order to optimize the loading factor of each item on the
extracted components. Items with loading factor of more
than plus or minus 0.3 were considered as an acceptable
loading factor11).

RESULTS
A total of 90 (90%) responded to the questionnaire. 50
(55.6%) were female students. All of the participants were
Malay and at age of 16.
Reliability analysis
The total alpha value of the Malay Brief COPE was

31

The Validity of the Malay Brief Cope in Identifying Coping Strategies among Adolescents in Secondary School

Table 1. The reliability analysis and factor analysis of the Brief COPE items
No

Items

Saya beralih kepada aktiviti/tugasan lain supaya saya melupakan

perkara tersebut.

*Coping
strategy

Cronbachs
Alpha

(Ive been turning to work or other activities to take my mind

off things.)
2

Saya membuat sesuatu untuk kurang memikirkan hal tersebut seperti

pergi, menonton wayang, menonton televisyen, membaca, berkhayal,

Factor

Factor

loading

0.83

0.58

0.71

VI

0.63

VI

0.86

IX

0.11

IX

0.58

tidur atau membeli belah.

(Ive been doing something to think about it less, such as going to
movies, watching TV, reading, daydreaming, sleeping, or shopping.)
3

Saya menumpukan usaha saya untuk melakukan sesuatu terhadap

situasi yang saya sedang alami.
(Ive been concentrating my efforts on doing something about
the situation Im in.)

0.73

Saya mengambil tindakan untuk cuba menjadikan situasi itu lebih baik.
(Ive been taking action to try to make the situation better.)

Saya berkata pada diri sendiri, ini bukan realiti.

(Ive been saying to myself this isnt real.)

Saya enggan mempercayai bahawa perkara tersebut telah berlaku.

0.34

(Ive been refusing to believe that it happened.)

7

Saya menggunakan alcohol atau dadah untuk menjadikan

saya berasa lega.
(Ive been using alcohol or other drugs to make myself feel better.)

Saya menggunakan alcohol atau dadah untuk membantu saya

Cannot be calculated by
D

menghadapinya.
(Ive been using alcohol or other drugs to help me get through it.)
9

SPSS due to less than two

non-zero variance items.

Saya mendapatkan sokongan emosi daripada orang lain.

(Ive been getting emotional support from others.)

10

Saya memperolehi pujukan dan timbangrasa daripada seseorang.

(Ive been getting comfort & understanding from someone)

11

Saya mendapatkan bantuan dan nasihat daripada orang lain.

Ive been getting help & advice from other people.

12

Saya cuba mendapatkan nasihat atau bantuan daripada orang lain

tentang apa yang harus dilakukan.

14

Saya berputus asa untuk mencuba mengendalikannya.

Saya berkata sesuatu untuk membiarkan perasaan yang tidak

menyenangkan itu berlalu.
(Ive been saying things to let my unpleasant feelings escape.)

16

088

II

0.81

II

0.95

0.93

0.34

VIII

0.91

VIII

0.52

III

0.44

Saya meluahkan perasaan-perasaan negatif saya

(Ive been expressing my negative feeling.)

17

II

0.82

(Ive been giving up to attempt to cope.)

15

0.86

0.77

Saya berputus asa untuk menangani masalah tersebut.

(Ive been giving up trying to deal with it.)

II

0.67

(Ive been trying to get advice or help from other people about
what to do.)
13

0.67

Saya cuba melihat daripada sudut yang berbeza untuk menjadikan ia

lebih positif.
(Ive been trying to see it in different light, to make it seem more
positive.)

0.75

32

Yusoff M. S. B.
18

Saya mencuba mencari sesuatu yang baik daripada apa yang

berlaku.
(I've been looking for something good in what is happening.)

19

Saya berfikir dengan mendalam tentang langkah-langkah

Saya berjenaka dengan perkara itu.

(I've been making jokes about it.)

22
23

Saya mempersendakan situasi tersebut.

(I've been making fun of the situation.)

III

0,66

III

0.98

VII

0.58

VII

-0.11

VI

0.81

VI

0.89

IV

0.96

IV

0.54

0.61

0.51

Saya menerima hakikal bahawa ianya telah berlaku.

(I've been accepting the reality of the fact that it has happened.)

24

Saya cuba belajar untuk hidup dengan masalah itu.

(I've been learning to live with it.)

25

Saya cuba mencari ketenangan dalam kepercayaan agama

atau rohani saya.
(I've been trying to find comfort in my religion or spiritual belief.)

26

0.83
0.69

yang perlu diambil.

(I've been thinking hard about what steps to take.)
21

III

Saya cuba menyediakan strategi apa yang harus dilakukan.

(I've been trying to come up with a strategy about what to
do.)

20

0.80

0.02

0.84

Saya berdoa atau bermeditasi.

(I've been praying or meditating.)

27

Saya mengkritik diri saya sendiri.

(I've been criticizing myself.)

28

Saya menyalahkan diri sendiri atas apa yang telah berlaku.

(I've been blaming myself for things that happened.)

0.83

* Coping strategies; A = self-distraction, B = Active Coping, C = Denial, D = Substance Abuse, E = Use of emotional support, F = Use of instrumental support, G = Behavioral Disengagement, H = Venting, I = Positive Reinterpretation, J = Planning, K = Humor, L = Acceptance, M =
Religion, N = Self-blame
a

Reliability analysia; Cronbach's alpha

Factor analysis; Principal Component Analysis with rotation of Promax. Nine components were extracted. Total percentage of variance

explained was 71.15%.

0.83. Six coping strategies showed high internal consistency as their Cronbachs alpha values more than 0.7 9) .
Whereas, Four coping strategies showed an acceptable
internal consistency as their Cronbachs alpha values were
more than 0.59). The rest of coping strategies having low
internal consistency as their Cronbachs alpha values less
than 0.5 and the items need to be revised to improve the
items in the future. In general, this analysis suggested that
the items of the Malay Brief COPE were reliable as having
overall high internal consistency.
Factor analysis
The sample was adequate as indicated by i) a KMO
value of 0.69 and ii) Bartletts test of sphericity being significant (p-value < 0.001).
There were nine components having Eigenvalues more
than 1 with 71.15% of variance responding. The result is
comparable with the original Brief COPE 6). The extraction
result was shown in table 1. The factor analysis showed that
all items were constructed according to 14 coping strategies;
however, self-blame and behavioral disengagement, active
coping and acceptance, positive reinterpretation and plan-

ning, and used of instrumental and emotional support were in

the similar factor. While the rest of coping strategies were
loaded on distinct factors. However it is interesting to mention that items of substance abuse were not calculated by
SPSS due to the both items giving similar variance.

DISCUSSION
The reliability analysis suggested that the Malay Brief
COPE shown high internal consistency as its Cronbachs
alpha value was more than 0.79); this reflect the consistency
and reproducibility (reliability) of the instrument in identifying coping strategies of adolescents in secondary school.
Furthermore, its reliability is comparable with the original
Brief COPE as reported by the Carver6). Most of the coping
strategies have shown a measure of acceptable internal consistency as having Cronbachs alpha value of more than 0.5
as shown in table 1; it is another evidence to reflect the
reliability of the Malay Brief COPE. The finding is in
keeping with the work of Carver in 1997 6). However, it
seem that 3 coping strategies items, venting of emotion,
denial and acceptance, which shown poor reliability; all

The Validity of the Malay Brief Cope in Identifying Coping Strategies among Adolescents in Secondary School

items must be revised for further improvement. It is interesting to highlight that the substance abuse coping cannot
be calculated by SPPS due to similar variances the two
items have; possible reason for this is because all participants gave similar answer. Perhaps similar study with better sample size can be conducted in the future to confirm
the findings. Overall, present study findings provide evidence to support that the Malay Brief COPE was a reliable
instrument that could be used in the future to indentify coping strategies among medical students.
The factor analysis has shown that there are nine components extracted from the Malay Brief COPE and all the
items were loaded nicely into the components. 26 items fit
very well into the nine components as all the items had
loading factor of more than 0.310); It reflects that the Malay
Brief COPE had a good construct as well as it is an evidence to support the instrument measured what it should
measure. However, there are two items should be revised
since they are not well fit with the components as the items
had loading factors less than 0.310). The present study findings has provided evidence to support that the Malay Brief
COPE is a valid instrument to determine coping strategies
among adolescents in secondary school.
It is worthy to highlight that, this study has its own limitations. The first limitation is the sample size of the study
did not represent the actual distribution of adolescents in
term race, gender, religion and year of study. The second
limitation is the convenient sampling method that had been
used can lead to bias that will affect the accuracy of this
study result. The third limitation was the subject was taken
from a secondary school that may not represent the adolescence population. Considering all these limitations, the
result of present study should be interpreted cautiously.
Future study with better methodology should be conducted
to confirm this study result. However, present study has
provided useful information for future studies in such area.

CONCLUSION
This study showed that the Malay Brief COPE had a
good psychometric value. It is a valid and reliable instrument that can be used in the future to identify coping strategies among secondary school adolescents.

33

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Our special thanks to Medical Students Facilitator Team
for their contribution to this study. Our deepest appreciation to the PPD Kota Bahru for their support in this study.
Our special thanks to Dr Ahmad Fuad Abdul Rahim and Dr
Mohamad Najib Mat Pa from Medical Education
Department USM for their help in this study. Last but not
least, our deepest thanks to the students for their participation in this study.

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