Brief COPE Questionnaire
Here you can take a brief questionnaire about what coping strategy you use. This survey was created by Dr. Carver of the University of Miami and is used to empirically determine what mechanisms you use and helps you identify what research says about that technique.
This questionnaire concerns how you coped with your most stressful experience
identified above. Use the following response choices. Try to rate each item separately in
your mind from the others. Make your answers as true for you as you can. Use the following
choices:
1 = Not at all 2 = A little bit 3 = A medium amount 4 = A lot
___ 1. Turned to work or other activities to take my mind off things.
___ 2. Concentrated my efforts on doing something about the situation I'm in.
___ 3. Said to myself "this isn't real."
___ 4. Used alcohol or other drugs to make myself feel better.
___ 5. Got emotional support from others.
___ 6. Gave up trying to deal with it.
___ 7. Took time to figure out what I'm really feeling.
___ 8. Took action to try to make the situation better.
___ 9. Refused to believe that it has happened.
___ 10. Said things to let my unpleasant feelings escape.
___ 11. Got help and advice from other people.
___ 12. Used alcohol or other drugs to help me get through it.
___ 13. Tried to see it in a different light, to make it seem more positive.
___ 14. Criticized myself.
___ 15. Realized that my feelings are valid and important.
___ 16. Tried to come up with a strategy about what to do.
___ 17. Got comfort and understanding from someone.
___ 18. Gave up the attempt to cope.
___ 19. Looked for something good in what was happening.
___ 20. Made jokes about it.
___ 21. Did something to think about it less, such as going to movies, watching TV, reading,
daydreaming, sleeping, or shopping.
___ 22. Accepted the reality of the fact that it has happened.
___ 23. Allowed myself to express my emotions.
___ 24. Expressed my negative feelings.
___ 25. Tried to find comfort in my religion or spiritual beliefs.
___ 26. Tried to get advice or help from other people about what to do.
___ 27. Learned to live with it.
___ 28. Thought hard about what steps to take.
___ 29. Blamed myself for things that happened.
___ 30. Prayed or meditated.
___ 31. Let my feelings come out freely.
___ 32. Made fun of the situation.
This questionnaire concerns how you coped with your most stressful experience
identified above. Use the following response choices. Try to rate each item separately in
your mind from the others. Make your answers as true for you as you can. Use the following
choices:
1 = Not at all 2 = A little bit 3 = A medium amount 4 = A lot
___ 1. Turned to work or other activities to take my mind off things.
___ 2. Concentrated my efforts on doing something about the situation I'm in.
___ 3. Said to myself "this isn't real."
___ 4. Used alcohol or other drugs to make myself feel better.
___ 5. Got emotional support from others.
___ 6. Gave up trying to deal with it.
___ 7. Took time to figure out what I'm really feeling.
___ 8. Took action to try to make the situation better.
___ 9. Refused to believe that it has happened.
___ 10. Said things to let my unpleasant feelings escape.
___ 11. Got help and advice from other people.
___ 12. Used alcohol or other drugs to help me get through it.
___ 13. Tried to see it in a different light, to make it seem more positive.
___ 14. Criticized myself.
___ 15. Realized that my feelings are valid and important.
___ 16. Tried to come up with a strategy about what to do.
___ 17. Got comfort and understanding from someone.
___ 18. Gave up the attempt to cope.
___ 19. Looked for something good in what was happening.
___ 20. Made jokes about it.
___ 21. Did something to think about it less, such as going to movies, watching TV, reading,
daydreaming, sleeping, or shopping.
___ 22. Accepted the reality of the fact that it has happened.
___ 23. Allowed myself to express my emotions.
___ 24. Expressed my negative feelings.
___ 25. Tried to find comfort in my religion or spiritual beliefs.
___ 26. Tried to get advice or help from other people about what to do.
___ 27. Learned to live with it.
___ 28. Thought hard about what steps to take.
___ 29. Blamed myself for things that happened.
___ 30. Prayed or meditated.
___ 31. Let my feelings come out freely.
___ 32. Made fun of the situation.