Coping with ambient stress: factorial structure and stressor-specificity of a general scale / Afrontamiento del estrés ambiental: estructura factorial y especificidad de estresores en una escala general

Abstract

The aim of this study was (a) to examine the factorial structure of coping with ambient stress and (b) to examine the stressor-specificity of coping strategies. A German questionnaire was compiled and tested in an online survey (N = 703). Most of the final 23 items referred to environmental burdens and pollution in general. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identified three subscales with a common second-order factor: environmental concern/activism, optimism and self-protection (Cronbach's α: .71 to .88). A paper-and-pencil study (N = 109) confirmed the three-factor structure. In addition, coping items were reformulated to relate to five specific ambient stressors. Results showed positive correlations between responses to stressorspecific items and general items, but their degree and significance varied between stressors and subscales. Thus, the general scale on coping with ambient stress may be applied in multiple-stressor research. For research on stressor-specificity of coping strategies, stressor-specific instruments should be used.