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Environment and Behavior
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Coping With Global Environmental Problems

Development and First Validation of Scales

Andreas Homburg

Philipps-University of Marburg

Andreas Stolberg

Marburg, Germany

Ulrich Wagner

Philipps-University of Marburg

How do people cope with global environmental problems? This article reports on the development and initial validation of a set of scales that measure coping with global environmental problems (e.g., climate change). Lazarus' coping approach formed the theoretical basis for the development of the scales. Altogether, eight scales were developed: problem solving, expressive coping, denial of guilt, relativization, wishful thinking, self-protection, pleasure, and resignation. In three studies ( N = 265; 275; 225) the scales and the scale structure were replicated (Cronbach's {alpha}: .63 to .90). A two-dimensional metastructure of the scales was supported by the data (problem-focused coping vs. deproblematization-focused coping). Furthermore, correlations (coping with stress and proenvironmental behavior) and hypothesized group differences in coping found empirical support. Thus, the scales can be used for research projects as well as for the preparation and evaluation of interventions to alleviate environmental stress and to foster proenvironmental behavior.

Key Words: coping • environmental stress • proenvironmental behavior • questionnaire • test construction • test validity

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This version was published on November 1, 2007

Environment and Behavior, Vol. 39, No. 6, 754-778 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0013916506297215
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