Psychometric analysis of the coping questionnaire in venezuelan family members of drugs users

Abstract

An estimate in Venezuela suggests that about 5% of its population are drug users, so assistance to them and their families is important in public policy. Aim. For this motive, they were evaluated the psychometric properties of the Mexican version of the Coping Questionnaire (CQ) in Venezuela, with relatives of drug users. Method. Three hundred family members relatives, aged between 18 and 72 years, answered the questionnaire in an observational, cross-sectional, field and psychometric study. The resulting instrument includes 23 items that measure the strategies of Committed and Independent Coping. Results. The confirmatory factor analysis showed the presence of two factors with adequate internal consistency, Compromised Coping (α = 0.88) and Independent Coping (α = 0.75), while that of the total instrument was (α = 0.86). Results show that the closer the relative or ascendant (mother / father) is with the drug user, the higher the score obtained in the committed dimension. Moreover, when family members receive some type of support as support groups, there is a tendency to score higher in the Independent dimension. Conclusion. The instrument adapted to Venezuela is reliable, valid and easy to apply. It will be useful to measure coping strategies and generate intervention strategies.