Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ)

Xie compiled the SCSQ based on a non-Chinese pressure coping style scale and the Chinese population’s characteristics.²³ It is a sensitive instrument for measuring stress responses. It includes two dimensions: positive coping (12 items, including asking relatives, friends, or classmates for advice and finding several different ways to solve the problem); and negative coping (eight items, including reliance on others to solve problems). It uses a 4-point scoring system (0 = never, 1 = seldom, 2 = sometimes, and 3 = often). When individuals are under stress, they adopt various coping measures, including positive and negative coping styles. Researchers use the following formula to judge an individual’s coping style:²⁴ Coping tendency = positive coping standard score – negative coping standard score. Positive coping standard score = Individual positive coping dimension mean –Sample positive coping dimension mean)/Sample positive coping dimension standard deviation. Negative coping standard score = Individual negative coping dimension mean -Sample negative coping dimension mean)/Sample negative coping dimension standard deviation. Coping tendency scores above 0 suggest a positive coping style; below 0 suggests a negative coping style.