Factorial validity of the coping scale for Korean athletes

Abstract

This study assessed the factorial construct validity of the culturally-specific coping scale for Korean athletes (CSKA) by attempting to confirm the hypothesized first and second-order factor structures. Based on previous coping literature, the coping scale yielded with the four coping styles (problem-focused, emotion-focused, avoidance, and transcendent coping styles) to be a function of two higher-order dimensions (direct and indirect coping), in response to various stressors commonly experienced in sport situations. Data were collected from 411 competitive Korean athletes (234 males and 177 females). The results of confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the data fit the hypothesized first-order four-factor and second-order two-factor models of the CSKA reasonably well: These results suggest that the CSKA possesses adequate factorial validity useful to measure the coping styles of Korean athletes.