Meaning-centered coping as a target of psychological assessment

Abstract

Context and relevance. The work is aimed at adapting the “Meaning-Centered Coping” (MCC) scale (Eisenbeck et al., 2022). Methods and materials. The adaptation was carried out on the basis of several samples. The first one was collected in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic as a part of the large scale international study, in which the technique was created (402 participants), the second one as a part of a separate methodology-centered study on the adult sample (95 participants), and the third one on a sample of university students (175 participants). All participants filled Meaning-Centered Coping Scale. Study 1 included also PERMA Profiler, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale SASS 21, a situational version of COPE inventory related to pandemic, Sense of Coherence Scale. Study 2 included PERMA Profiler, Study 3 — PERMA, Noetic Orientations Test and Test of Personal Life Position. Results. A satisfactory scale consistency was revealed, the test score was significantly associated with meaning scale of PERMA, NOT scales and the Sense of Coherence; to a lesser degree with other well-being indices and with awareness and authenticity scales of PLP. In the pandemic context MCC scores decreased through 6 months’ interval, predominantly in those participant who claimed that pandemic has a negative impact on their life. Besides, MCC was strongly associated with reappraisal and personal growth copings in the pandemic context and, to a lesser degree, with active coping, religion, acceptance and planning. Conclusions. The scale can be of use for the assessment of meaning-centered coping in the counseling practice.