Summary
Measuring proactive coping. Psychometric characteristics of the Utrecht Proactive Coping Competence scale (UPCC)
The concept of proactive coping is relevant to health psychology as it indicates that people have the ability to anticipate and deal with potential threats to their health before they occur. Based on the conceptual model developed by Aspinwall en Taylor (1997), the Utrecht Proactive Coping Competence scale (UPCC) was developed to assess an individual’s competency with regard to the various skills associated with proactive coping. This study examines the psychometric characteristics of the scale, including its reliability, construct validity and predictive validity, and responsiveness to change. Results are based on three studies (N=545), including two intervention studies among elderly subjects and patients with diabetes and a crosssectional study among young adults. The scale consists of 21 items which together form one factor. The UPPC proves to be highly reliable and is positively associated with other measures of future-orientation, goal-setting and planning and negatively associated with measures of worry and distress. The UPCC is also positively associated with measures of goal attainment, self-efficacy and health behaviors. The studies show that the UPCC is sensitive to interventions, while improvements in the measure of proactive coping are associated with significantly more improvements in self-care behaviours up to 12 months later. The UPCC is thereby shown to be a practical self-report instrument which is relevant to both theoretical studies on self-regulation and professionals who wish to support clients in achieving and maintaining long-term health goals.
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De eerste auteur is verbonden aan de Universiteit Twente, de andere auteurs aan de Universiteit Utrecht.
Correspondentieadres: Dr. C. Bode, Universiteit Twente, Faculteit Gedragswetenschappen, Afdeling Psychologie en Communicatie van Gezondheid en Risico, Postbus 217, 7500 AE Enschede.
Items van de Utrechtse Proactieve Coping Competentie lijst
Items van de Utrechtse Proactieve Coping Competentie lijst
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Bode, C., Thoolen, B. & Ridder, d. Het meten van proactieve copingvaardigheden. PSEG 36, 81–91 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03077476
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03077476