An assessment of the Psychometric Properties of the Brief Religious Coping Scale (Brief RCOPE) With a Veteran Sample

Abstract

Pew Research Institute estimated that, in 2020, ~70% of individuals in the United States identified as religious, and that United States. Veterans identify in similar percentages. As such, the use of religion as a resource in the context of stress—a term called religious coping—has been studied systematically. Two types of religious coping have been identified: Positive Religious Coping (PRC) and Negative Religious Coping (NRC). Research shows that these different, but related constructs are uniquely related to health outcomes. In this study, PRC and NRC were examined through a psychometric lens as distinct mechanisms. A psychometric analysis of the two-factor Brief Religious Coping Scale was conducted to examine the suitability of the measure in a Veteran sample (N=170). Results indicated that two distinct-but-adapted subscales emerged. For the NRC Scale, six of the seven original items emerged as appropriate; for the PRC Scale, all seven of the original items were appropriate. Implications include the emerging evidence that the 13-item Brief RCOPE is functional for this population. The findings allow for assessment of religious coping in rehabilitation settings, given the established connections to health.