This study aimed to develop a comprehensive and representative measure of youths' dispositional coping. A sample of 450 youth, aged 10 to 16 years old, were recruited from public and private schools. The majority of the sample consisted of African American and Caucasian youth. After initial item generation, pilot testing, and item elimination, exploratory factor analyses resulted in a 44-item coping measure with a 3-factor solution (Diversion, Ameliorative Coping, and Destructive Coping). Internal consistency analyses indicated strong reliabilities (all coefficient alphas above .85) for the three scales and the composite score across races. Preliminary validity data confirmed that Diversion is the most adaptive coping factor and Destructive Coping the most maladaptive. These preliminary results indicate that the Youth Coping Responses Inventory presents a promising new measure of youths' coping.
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