Coping measure: A critique review of the Ways of Coping Scale

This article reviews the Ways of Coping Scale from a methodological and conceptual perspective. This scale was originally created by Lazarus and Folkman (1980), and, perhaps, it is the most used tool for measuring coping behaviors. It is particularly analysed the relationship between the scale and the theory of stress and coping proposed by Lazarus and Folkman (1980). Besides, results obtained through several different psychometric analysis are, also, considered. Finally, it is suggested the use of other instruments for assesing stress and coping in a different way, that avoid and prevent the difficulties show by the Ways of Coping.