Psychometric Evaluation of the Brief-COPE Inventory and Exploration of Factors Associated with Perceived Stress among Peruvian Nurses.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the Brief-COPE Inventory and to determine its concurrent validity by examining its association with perceived stress among Peruvian nurses. METHODS: A psychometric study was conducted with 434 Peruvian nurses to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Brief-COPE Inventory through confirmatory factor analysis. Three stepwise variable selection regression models were implemented. RESULTS: The three-factor model of the Brief-COPE Inventory demonstrated adequate fit indices (root mean square error of approximation = 0.052, standardized root mean square residual = 0.068, and both the comparative fit index and the Tucker-Lewis index = 0.95). Additionally, the factors were significantly correlated (p < 0.001), and the reliability was adequate (ω = 0.90). Nurses reported a medium level of perceived stress, with associated factors including having received stress management training, fear of COVID-19, and problem-focused coping strategies (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study confirms that the Brief-COPE Inventory is a valid tool for measuring coping strategies among Peruvian nurses due to its good model fit, excellent reliability, and concurrent validity with perceived stress. However, further research is needed to assess its validity in the specific areas of performance perceived by nursing professionals.

Estratégia materna de enfrentamento à confirmação de infecção pelo vírus Zika na gravidez: reflexo no neurodesenvolvimento dos seus filhos / Maternal strategy for coping with confirmation of Zika virus infection during pregnancy: reflection on the neurodevelopment of their children

Resumo A infecção pelo vírus Zika na grávida resulta em alterações do desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor nas crianças afetadas, sendo importante fator de estresse para essas mulheres. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a estratégia de enfrentamento das mães a essa situação e como isto se refletiu no neurodesenvolvimento dos seus filhos. Estudo transversal com 46 mulheres e seus filhos. A estratégia de enfrentamento foi avaliada pelo Inventário Brief Cope, aplicado às mães, e o desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor das crianças, foi avaliado aos 24 meses de idade pelas Escalas Bayley III. A estratégia predominante de enfrentamento mais frequentemente usada pelas mães foi a de aproximação (73,9%), com destaque para o componente planejamento. A utilização da estratégia de negação esteve associada aos escores mais baixos na escala Bayley III, sendo nessa escala o componente mais utilizado o de auto culpabilização. A religião foi o componente de apoio auxiliar mais utilizado pelas mães. A utilização da negação como estratégia predominante de enfrentamento pelas mães mostrou associação com os piores resultados na avaliação do desenvolvimento infantil e reforça a necessidade do apoio a estas mulheres, para que possam lidar mais diretamente com os sentimentos decorrentes das situações vivenciadas.

Abstract Zika virus infection in pregnant women results in changes in neuropsychomotor development in affected children, being an important stress factor for these women. This study aimed to evaluate the mothers' coping strategy in this situation and how this was reflected in the neurodevelopment of their children. Cross-sectional study with 46 women and their children. The coping strategy was assessed using the Brief Cope Inventory, applied to mothers, and the children's neuropsychomotor development was assessed at 24 months of age using the Bayley III Scales. The predominant coping strategy most frequently used by mothers was approach (73.9%), with emphasis on the planning component. The use of the avoidant coping was associated with lower scores on the Bayley III scale, with self-blame being the most used component on this scale. Religion was the auxiliary support component most used by mothers. The use of avoidant as the predominant coping strategy by mothers was associated with the worst results in the assessment of child development and reinforces the need to support these women, so that they can deal more directly with the feelings arising from the situations they experience.

Brief COPE Short Version (Mini-COPE): A Proposal of Item and Factorial Reduction in Mexican Population.

The factorial reduction of Brief COPE has not been successfully replicated by independent studies, and few have been performed in Spanish-speaking populations; therefore, the objective of this study was to perform a factorial reduction of the instrument in a large sample of the Mexican population and perform a convergent and divergent validity of the factors obtained. We distributed a questionnaire via social networks with sociodemographic and psychological variables, including the Brief COPE and the scales of the CPSS, GAD-7, and CES-D to measure stress, anxiety, and depression. A total of 1283 persons were included, most of whom (64.8%) were women and had a bachelor's degree (55.2%). After performing the exploratory factorial analysis, we did not find a model with an adequate fit and a reduced number of factors; therefore, we decided to reduce the number of items according to the most representative ones of adaptive, maladaptive, and emotional coping strategies. The resulting model with three factors showed good fit parameters and good internal consistency of the factors. In addition, the nature and naming of the factors were confirmed by convergent and divergent validity, with significant negative correlations between factor 1 (active/adaptive) and stress, depression, and anxiety, significant positive correlations between factor 2 (avoidant/maladaptive) and these three variables, and no significant correlation between factor 3 (emotional/neutral) and stress or depression. This shortened version of the brief COPE (Mini-COPE) is a good option to evaluate adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies in Spanish-speaking populations.

Brazilian vascular surgeons experience during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has made a significant impact on all spheres of society. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the practices, finances, and social aspects of Brazilian vascular surgeons' lives. METHODS: This is a descriptive analysis of the responses from Brazilian vascular surgeons to the cross-sectional anonymous Society for Vascular Surgery Wellness Task Force Pandemic Practice, Anxiety, Coping, and Support Survey for Vascular Surgeons disseminated 14-24 April 2020. Survey dissemination in Brazil occurred mainly via the Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery (SBACV) and social media. The survey evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vascular surgeons' lives by assessing COVID-19-related stressors, anxiety using theGeneral Anxiety Disorder (GAD)-7 scale, and coping strategies using the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief-COPE) inventory. RESULTS: A total of 452 responses were recorded from Brazil, with 335 (74%) respondents completing the entire survey. The majority of respondents were males (N = 301, 67%) and practiced in an urban hospitals. The majority of respondents considered themselves at high risk to be infected with COVID-19 (N = 251, 55.8%), and just over half the respondents noted that they had adequate PPE at their primary hospital (N = 171, 54%). One hundred and nine (35%) surgeons confirmed that their hospitals followed professional surgical society guidelines for prioritizing surgeries during the pandemic. At the time of the survey, only 33 (10%) surgeons stated they have pre-operative testing of patients for COVID-19 available at their hospital. Academic vascular surgeons reported being redeployed more often to help with other non-vascular duties compared to community-based or solo practitioners (43% vs. 30% vs. 21% respectively, P = .01). Severe anxiety due to pandemic-related financial concerns was similar in those surgeons practicing solo compared to those in community- or academic-based/group practice (46% vs. 38% vs. 22%; P = .54). The respondents reported their anxiety levels as mild based on the stressors investigated instead of moderate-severe (54% vs. 46%; P = .04). Social media was utilized heavily during the pandemic, with video gatherings being the most commonly used tool (76%). Self-distraction (60%) and situational acceptance (81%) were the most frequently reported coping mechanisms used among Brazilian vascular surgeons. CONCLUSION: The COVID pandemic has greatly affected healthcare providers around the world. At the time of this survey, Brazilian vascular surgeons are reporting low anxiety levels during this time and are using mostly active coping mechanisms.

Differences in coping strategies in adult patients with bipolar disorder and their first-degree relatives in comparison to healthy controls / Diferenças entre as estratégias de coping em pacientes adultos com transtorno bipolar e seus familiares em comparação com controles saudáveis

Abstract Introduction: The objective of this study was to compare patients with bipolar disorder (BD), their first-degree relatives and a group of healthy controls in terms of use of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies, exploring differences between specific types of strategies and their correlations with clinical variables. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study enrolling 36 euthymic patients with BD, 39 of their first-degree relatives and 44 controls. Coping strategies were assessed using the Brief COPE scale. Results: Significant differences were detected in the use of adaptive and maladaptive strategies by patients, their first-degree relatives and controls. Patients used adaptive strategies less often than the patients' relatives (p<0.001) and controls (p = 0.003). There was no significant difference between first-degree relatives and controls (p=0.707). In contrast, patients (p<0.001) and their relatives (p=0.004) both exhibited higher scores for maladaptive coping than controls. There was no significant difference regarding the use of maladaptive strategies between patients and their relatives (p=0.517). Conclusions: First-degree relatives were at an intermediate level between patients with BD and controls regarding the use of coping skills. This finding supports the development of psychosocial interventions to encourage use of adaptive strategies rather than maladaptive strategies in this population.

Resumo Introdução: O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar os pacientes com transtorno bipolar (TB), seus familiares de primeiro grau e um grupo de controles saudáveis em termos de uso de estratégias adaptativas e não adaptativas, explorando diferenças entre tipos específicos de estratégias e suas correlações com variáveis clínicas. Métodos: Estudo transversal, envolvendo 36 pacientes com TB eutímicos, 39 familiares de primeiro grau e 44 controles. As estratégias de enfrentamento foram avaliadas usando a escala Brief COPE. Resultados: Foram detectadas diferenças significativas no uso de estratégias adaptativas e não adaptativas por pacientes, seus familiares e controles. Os pacientes usaram estratégias adaptativas com menos frequência do que os familiares (p<0,001) e controles (p=0,003). Não houve diferença significativa entre familiares dos pacientes e controles (p=0,707). Por outro lado, os pacientes (p<0,001) e seus familiares (p=0,004) exibiram pontuações mais elevadas para coping não adaptativo em relação aos controles. Não houve diferença significativa quando os pacientes foram comparados com seus familiares (p=0,517). Conclusões: Familiares de primeiro grau estavam em um nível intermediário entre pacientes com TB e controles no que diz respeito ao uso de habilidades de enfrentamento. Esta descoberta apoia o desenvolvimento de intervenções psicossociais para incentivar o uso de estratégias adaptativas em vez de estratégias inadequadas nessa população.

Alcohol-related blackouts among college students: impact of low level of response to alcohol, ethnicity, sex, and environmental characteristics

Objective: To explore how a genetically-influenced characteristic (the level of response to alcohol [LR]), ethnicity, and sex relate to environmental and attitudinal characteristics (peer drinking [PEER], drinking to cope [COPE], and alcohol expectancies [EXPECT]) regarding future alcohol-related blackouts (ARBs). Methods: Structural equation models (SEMs) were used to evaluate how baseline variables related to ARB patterns in 462 college students over 55 weeks. Data were extracted from a longitudinal study of heavy drinking and its consequences at a U.S. university. Results: In the SEM analysis, female sex and Asian ethnicity directly predicted future ARBs (beta weights 0.10 and -0.11, respectively), while all other variables had indirect impacts on ARBs through alcohol quantities (beta weights ~ 0.23 for European American ethnicity and low LR, 0.21 for cannabis use and COPE, and 0.44 for PEER). Alcohol quantities then related to ARBs with beta = 0.44. The SEM explained 23% of the variance. Conclusion: These data may be useful in identifying college students who are more likely to experience future ARBs over a 1-year period. They enhance our understanding of whether the relationships of predictors to ARBs are direct or mediated through baseline drinking patterns, information that may be useful in prevention strategies for ARBs.

Versión española del COPE-48: evaluación del afrontamiento en pacientes psiquiátricos ambulatorios / The epanish version of the COPE-48: assessing coping strategies in psychiatric outpatients

Introducción: La utilización el COPE en contextos clínicos permite conocer las estrategias que utilizan las personas para afrontar situaciones estresantes y por ende incidir sobre ellas mediante tratamiento psicológico. Objetivo: presentar a la comunidad científica de habla hispana la versión española del COPE-48 junto con las propiedades psicométricas obtenidas en una muestra de personas adultas con psicopatología. Métodos: la muestra estuvo formada por 301 participantes (62.5% mujeres). Resultados: la consistencia interna media de las escalas es de 0.81. Nuestros resultados muestran un patrón diferencial en la utilización de las estrategias según el género. Conclusiones: la administración del COPE-48 en contextos clínicos es de gran utilidad práctica, puesto que permite conocer de modo rápido, fácil y preciso las estrategias más frecuentemente utilizadas por los pacientes para afrontar situaciones altamente demandantes. Dicho conocimiento permite intervenir mediante tratamiento psicológico para instaurar, potenciar o minimizar las estrategias necesarias para afrontar una determinada situación comprometida.

Introduction: In clinical settings, the COPE questionnaire allows to assess the strategies people use to cope with stressful situations and therefore, if needed, to modify them through psychological treatment. Objective: The aim of this study is to offer to the Spanish-speaking scientific community the Spanish version of the COPE-48 along with the psychometric properties obtained in a sample of adults with psychopathology. Material and Methods: The sample consisted of 301 participants (62.5% women). Results: The average internal consistency of the scales was 0.81. Our results showed a gender pattern in the use of the coping strategies. Conclusions: In clinical settings, the administration of the COPE-48 allows a quick, easy and accurate assessment of the most frequently used strategies to cope with highly demanding situations. This knowledge makes possible to intervene with psychological treatment and whenever appropriate to establish, enhance or minimize the strategies needed to face difficult situations.

Psychometric properties of the Brief-COPE for the evaluation of coping strategies in the Chilean population.

The Brief-COPE is an abbreviated version of the COPE (Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced) Inventory, a self-report questionnaire developed to assess a broad range of coping responses. Currently, it is one of the best validated and most frequently used measures of coping strategies. The aim of this study was to validate a culturally appropriate Chilean version of the Brief-COPE, assess its psychometric properties and construct and congruent validity. The Spanish version of the Brief-COPE was administrated in a community sample of 1847 Chilean adult (60.4% women) exposed to a variety of stressful experiences. The factorial structure of the inventory was examined by comparing four different models found in previous studies in Latin American population. The results of confirmatory factor analyses revealed, as in the original studies, a 14-factor structure of the Brief-COPE. These dimensions showed adequate internal structure and consistency. The factorial invariance comparing women and men confirmed strict invariance. Additionally, the results showed significant correlation between some Brief-COPE scales, such as denial and substance use, with perceived stress and emotional support and active coping with subjective well-being. Overall, the present work offers a valid and reliable tool for assessing coping strategies in the Chilean population.

Psychometric properties of the Brief-COPE for the evaluation of coping strategies in the Chilean population

Abstract The Brief-COPE is an abbreviated version of the COPE (Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced) Inventory, a self-report questionnaire developed to assess a broad range of coping responses. Currently, it is one of the best validated and most frequently used measures of coping strategies. The aim of this study was to validate a culturally appropriate Chilean version of the Brief-COPE, assess its psychometric properties and construct and congruent validity. The Spanish version of the Brief-COPE was administrated in a community sample of 1847 Chilean adult (60.4% women) exposed to a variety of stressful experiences. The factorial structure of the inventory was examined by comparing four different models found in previous studies in Latin American population. The results of confirmatory factor analyses revealed, as in the original studies, a 14-factor structure of the Brief-COPE. These dimensions showed adequate internal structure and consistency. The factorial invariance comparing women and men confirmed strict invariance. Additionally, the results showed significant correlation between some Brief-COPE scales, such as denial and substance use, with perceived stress and emotional support and active coping with subjective well-being. Overall, the present work offers a valid and reliable tool for assessing coping strategies in the Chilean population.

O neolamarckismo de Edward Drinker Cope e a ideia de progresso biológico no processo evolutivo / The neo-Lamarckism of Edward Drinker Cope and the idea of biological progress in the evolutionary process

A teoria neolamarckista de Edward Cope operava com um mecanismo alternativo à seleção natural. Acréscimos ou decréscimos dos estágios ontogênicos produziriam características que poderiam ser geradas e integradas ao organismo por meio da herança de caracteres adquiridos. Incrementando, ou não, a complexidade corporal, tal mecanismo aumentava a capacidade adaptativa. Isso poderia ser interpretado como progresso biológico de maneira semelhante à interpretação feita por defensores da teoria sintética evolutiva. Mas, diferentemente destes últimos, o neolamarckismo relegava à seleção natural papel secundário. Este estudo esclarece o posicionamento de Cope em relação ao fenômeno do progresso biológico, assim como seu enfoque fortemente adaptacionista, propondo que essa tenha sido uma contribuição indireta à articulação da nova síntese evolutiva.

Edward Cope's neo-Lamarckist theory operated with an alternative mechanism to natural selection. For him, increases or decreases of the ontogenic stages produce characteristics that could be generated and integrated into the organism through the inheritance of acquired characters. Increasing body complexity, or not, this mechanism increased adaptive capacity. This could be interpreted as biological progress in a manner similar to the interpretation made by proponents of synthetic evolutionary theory. But unlike the latter, neo-Lamarkism relegated natural selection to a secondary role. This study aims to clarify the position of Cope in relation to the phenomenon of biological progress, as well as his strongly adaptational approach, proposing that this has been an indirect contribution to the articulation of the new evolutionary synthesis.

Estrategias de afrontamiento utilizadas por los pacientes con tuberculosis de un centro de salud / Ways of coping used by patients with tuberculosis of a community center

Cuando una persona recibe el diagnóstico de una enfermedad crónica como la tuberculosis cambia la forma como se ve a sí misma y a su vida, ello afecta profundamente el autoconcepto, y la adaptación dependerá de una multiplicidad de factores, como la edad, el sexo, el estatus social, el apoyo, la educación, las creencias religiosas, los patrones de personalidad, la inteligencia, los estilos de afrontamiento, el equilibrio o control emocional, etc. Objetivo: identificar las estrategias de afrontamiento utilizadas por los pacientes con tuberculosis. Material y métodos: estudio descriptivo de corte transversal. Se realizó en el Centro de Salud ©Santa Rosa¯ de San Juan de Lurigancho. El cuestionario Brief Cope fue aplicado a 30 pacientes. Para su validación, fue sometido a juicio de expertos y a una prueba piloto. Resultados: el 86,6 por ciento de la población utiliza el afrontamiento activo, el 73,3 por ciento de la población siempre utiliza la aceptación y el 53,3 por ciento utiliza la autodistracción como medio de afrontamiento. Conclusiones: de la dimensión estrategias centradas en el problema, los pacientes que asisten a la ESN-PCT del Centro de Salud Santa Rosa utilizan, en mayor porcentaje, el afrontamiento activo.

When a patient is diagnosed with chronic tuberculosis, the way the person sees his or her life changes. Auto concept is affected and the adaptation will depend on multiple factors such as age, gender, social status, education, religious believes, personality, intelligence, ways of coping, self control, etc. Objetive: The aim of the project was to identify the ways of coping in patients with Tuberculosis. Material and Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional research was conducted at ©Santa Rosa¯ community center in San Juan de Lurigancho. The ways of coping questionnaire was applied to a sample of 30 patients with tuberculosis. An expert review and pilot study were conducted to assess the credibility and validity of the instrument. Statistical analysis of the quantitative data was conducted. Results: The findings of the study revealed that 86.6 percent of the interviewers use active coping, 73.3 percent of the population always uses the acceptance and 53.3 percent use self-distraction as a means of confrontation. Conclusions. Patients who attend the ESN-PCT at ©Santa Rosa¯ community center mostly use problem focused ways of coping.

Body size evolution in Titanosauriformes (Sauropoda, Macronaria).

Titanosauriformes is a conspicuous and diverse group of sauropod dinosaurs that inhabited almost all land masses during Cretaceous times. Besides the diversity of forms, the clade comprises one of the largest land animals found so far, Argentinosaurus, as well as some of the smallest sauropods known to date, Europasaurus and Magyarosaurus. They are therefore good candidates for studies on body size trends such as the Cope's rule, the tendency towards an increase in body size in an evolutionary lineage. We used statistical methods to assess body size changes under both phylogenetic and nonphylogenetic approaches to identify body size trends in Titanosauriformes. Femoral lengths were collected (or estimated from humeral length) from 46 titanosauriform species and used as a proxy for body size. Our findings show that there is no increase or decrease in titanosauriform body size with age along the Cretaceous and that negative changes in body size are more common than positive ones (although not statistically significant) for most of the titanosauriform subclades (e.g. Saltasaridae, Lithostrotia, Titanosauria and Somphospondyli). Therefore, Cope's rule is not supported in titanosauriform evolution. Finally, we also found a trend towards a decrease of titanosauriform mean body size coupled with an increase in body size standard deviation, both supporting an increase in body size variation towards the end of Cretaceous.

COPE-28: un análisis psicométrico de la versión en español del Brief COPE / COPE-28 / COPE-28: a psychometric analysis of the spanish version of the brief COPE

El propósito del presente estudio es analizar las propiedades psicométricas del cuestionario Brief COPE en población española, considerando la estructura y dimensiones básicas del cuestionario, llamado COPE-28 con la versión española del mismo. La muestra fue de 260 adultos. Para analizar la estructura factorial, se realizó un análisis factorial exploratorio con el método de componentes principales y rotación varimax. Posteriormente, se realizó un análisis factorial de segundo orden con las subescales que forman el COPE-28. El resultado de la prueba KMO pone en duda la factibilidad de realizar un análisis factorial; el análisis no confirma la estructura factorial original del instrumento. Con base en los resultados obtenidos se afirma que la validez del COPE-28 no es concluyente.

The aim of this paper was to analyze psychometric properties of Spanish version of the Brief COPE questionnaire, analyzing its factor structure. The Spanish version of the Brief COPE was named COPE-28. The sample was 260 adult people. Exploratory factor analysis with principal components method and varimax rotation was used to extract the factors; as well as a second order analysis. The KMO result showed a non adequate value;nevertheless the analysis was performed and factor analysis did not confirm the factor structure of the Brief COPE. Due to the obtained results, the validity of the COPE-28 is not conclusive.