Coping self-efficacy in a community-based sample of women and men from the United Kingdom: the impact of sex and health status.

This study presents pioneer findings regarding coping self-efficacy obtained with the Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES) in a community-based sample composed of both women and men (to date, only data obtained in the 1980s from men with HIV and depression exist). The aims of this study were to investigate the psychometric properties of the CSES and obtain descriptive results in a British community-based sample composed of both women and men. Participants responded to both the CSES and another scale measuring coping with stress self-efficacy. Based on our findings, the CSES showed appropriate reliability and construct validity, although some items require revision. We found that sex and, particularly, health status play an important role in individual differences in coping self-efficacy. Women showed significantly stronger self-efficacy beliefs for social support than men, while for the remaining scores, men scored higher than women. Healthy participants showed significantly stronger self-efficacy beliefs (for social support, NS) than unhealthy participants. The results confirmed both the suitability of the CSES as a measure of a person's confidence in his or her perceived ability to perform certain actions aimed at coping effectively with stress in a nonbiased sample and its soundness in research and clinical contexts.

Variables modulating stress and coping that discriminate drug consumers from low or nondrug consumers.

The present study assesses how certain stress and coping variables relate to drug use. A total of 124 subjects (85 men, 39 women) took part. They were divided into two groups: consumers and low or nonconsumers. Results indicate that consumers show significantly lower scores in self-control than low or nonconsumers. This research is of interest because it analyzes the relationship among assertiveness, self-control, self-efficacy, and drug use. We consider it worthwhile to take these variables into account when planning prevention programs.