A Comparison of Multi-Item Likert and Visual Analogue Scales for the Assessment of Transactionally Defined Coping Function1
Abstract
Summary: The evaluation and monitoring of interventions that are designed to alleviate psychosocial stress rely largely on subjective assessments of coping as primary outcome measures. The pros and cons of different response formats used to measure coping variables are unexplored; yet arguably, response format is a very important methodological issue for the clinical application and evaluation of psychosocial interventions. This study compared the levels of functional coping and transactional coping patterns assessed with multi-item 7-point Likert Scales (LS) and 65mm Visual Analogue Scales (VAS), within the framework of the Functional Dimensions of Coping (FDC) Scale developed by Ferguson and Cox, 1997. LS yielded significantly higher levels of functional coping for all four subscales, and captured a wider range of transactional coping patterns for the approach, emotion, and avoidance coping functions, than VAS. The authors recommend the use of LS for baseline assessments of transactionally defined coping function within the FDC framework.
References
1992). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct.. American Psychologist, 47, 1597– 1611
(Avero, P., Calvo, M.G. (1999). Emotional reactivity to social-evaluative stress: Gender differences in response systems concordance.. Personality and Individual Differences, 27, 155– 170Bellamy, N. Campbell, J., Syrotuik, J. (1999a). Comparative study of self-rating pain scales in rheumatoid arthritis patients. . Retrieved November 12, 2000, from the World Wide Web: www.librapharm.co.uk/cmro/vol@@15/2001/main.htm.Bellamy, N. Campbell, J., Syrotuik, J. (1999b). Comparative study of self-rating pain scales in osteoarthritis patients. . Retrieved November 12, 2000, from the World Wide Web: www.librapharm.co.uk/cmro/vol_15/2000/main.htm.Brunier, G., Graydon, J. (1996). A comparison of two methods of measuring fatigue in patients on chronic haemodialysis: Visual Analogue versus Likert Scale.. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 33, 338– 348Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. . NJ: Erlbaum.Cox, T., Ferguson, E. (1991). Individuals, stress and coping.. In C. Cooper & R. Payne (Eds.), Personality and stress: Individual differences in the stress process (pp.1-22). Chichester: Wiley.Dewe, P. Cox, T., Ferguson, E. (1993). Individual strategies for coping with stress at work: A review of progress and directions for future research.. Work and Stress, 7(1), 5– 15Endler, N.S., Parker, J.D.A. (1990). Multidimensional assessment of coping: A critical evaluation.. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58, 844– 854Duncan, G.H. Bushnell, M.C., Lavigne, G.J. (1989). Comparison of Verbal and Visual Analogue Scales for measuring the intensity and unpleasantness of experimental pain.. Pain, 37, 295– 303Ferguson, E., Cox, T. (1997). The Functional Dimensions of Coping Scale: Theory, reliability, and validity.. British Journal of Health Psychology, 2, 109– 129Flynn, D. van Schaik, P. van Wersch, A., Kelly, N. (submitted). Coping with stress in male and female undergraduate students: A validation and extension of the Functional Dimensions of Coping (FDC) Scale. . Manuscript submitted for publication.Gift, A.G. (1989). Visual Analogue Scales: Measurement of a subjective phenomena.. Nursing Research, 30, 268– 288Grant, S. Aitchison, T. Henderson, E. Christie, J. Zare, S. McMurray, J., Dargie, M.D. (1999). A comparison of the reproducibility and the sensitivity to change of Visual Analogue Scales, Borg Scales, and Likert Scales in normal subjects during submaximal exercise.. Chest, 116, 1208– 1217Guyatt, G.H. Townsend, M. Berman, L.B., Keller, J.L. (1987). A comparison of Likert and Visual Analogue Scales for measuring change in function.. Journal of Chronic Disability, 40, 1129– 1133Holmes, S., Dickerson, J. (1977). The quality of life: Design and evaluation of a self-assessment instrument for use with cancer patients.. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 24(1), 15– 24Jaeschke, R. Singer, J. Gordon, H., Guyatt, G.H. (1990). A comparison of seven-point and Visual Analogue Scales: Data from a randomized controlled trial.. Controlled Clinical Trials, 11(1), 43– 51Jalowiec, A. Murphy, S., Powers, M. (1984). Psychometric assessment of the Jalowiec Coping Scale.. Nursing Research, 33, 157– 161Joyce, C.R.B. Zutshi, D.W. Hrubes, V., Mason, R.M. (1975). Comparison of fixed interval and Visual Analogue Scales for rating chronic pain.. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 8, 415– 420Krippendorf, K. (1980). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology. . New York: Springer-Verlag.Lutzky, S.M., Knight, B.G. (1994). Explaining gender differences in caregiver distress: The roles of emotional attentiveness and coping styles.. Psychology and Aging, 9, 513– 519MacFarlane, M., Sony, S. (1992). Women, breast lump discovery and associated distress.. Health Care for Women International, 13(1), 23– 32Moeller, D.M. Richards, C.S. Hooker, K.A., Ursino, A.A. (1992). Gender differences in the effectiveness of coping with dysphoria: A longitudinal study.. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 5, 349– 357Murphy, D.F. McDonald, A. Power, C. Unwin., A., MacSullivan, R. (1988). Measurement of pain: A comparison of the Visual Analogue with a Non-Visual Analogue Scale.. The Clinical Journal of Pain, 3, 197– 199Neely, G., Borg, E. (1995). Properties of a category ratio scale (CR-10) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS): A comparison with magnitude estimation, line production, and category scaling (Tech. Rep. No.791).. Stockholm, Sweden: Stockholm University, Department of Psychology.Neely, G. Ljunggren, G. Sylven, C., Borg, G. (1992). Comparison between the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Category Ratio Scale (CR) for the evaluation of leg exertion.. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 13, 133– 136Nyren, O. Adami, O. Bates, S. Bergstrom, R. Gustavsson, S. Loof, L., Sjoden, P.O. (1987). Self-rating of pain in non-ulcer dyspepsia.. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 9, 408– 414Parker, J.D. Endler, N.S., Bagby, R.M. (1993). If it changes, it might be unstable: Examining the factor structure of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire.. Psychological Assessment, 5, 361– 368Parkes, K.R. (1990). Coping, negative affectivity, and the work environment: Additive and interactive predictors of mental health.. Journal of Applied Psychology, 75, 399– 409Pfennings, L. Cohen, L., van der Ploeg, H. (1995). Preconditions for sensitivity in measuring change: Visual Analogue Scales compared to rating scales in a Likert format.. Psychological Reports, 77, 475– 480Scott, P.J., Huskisson, E.C. (1977). Measurement of functional capacity with Visual Analogue Scales.. Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, 16, 257– 259Tibbling, L. (1981). Angina-like chest pain in patients with oesophageal dysfunction.. Acta Medical Scandinavia, 644, 56– 59Tomaka, J. Blascovich, J. Kelsey, R., Leitten, C. (1993). Subjective, physiological and behavioral effects of threat and challenge appraisal.. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65, 248– 260Wolff, B.B. (1980). Measurement of human pain.. In J.J. Bonica (Ed.), Pain (pp.174-184). New York: Raven Press.