Coping behavior in children: methods of measurement for research and clinical practice.

The purpose of this critical analysis of children's coping measures (N = 22) was to determine the utility of the instruments for clinical nursing practice and nursing research. Criteria for utility were based on the instruments' theoretical basis, reliability, validity and costs related to time, personnel, money, and resources. The instruments that measure children's coping styles (n = 13) and coping strategies (n = 9) reflected seven different theoretical perspectives and included such methods as observation, interviews, projective techniques, self-report, and parent report. Ten of the 22 instruments were recommended for use in research or clinical practice. Armed with the appropriate instruments to measure coping, pediatric nurses can begin to examine the relationships among coping, illness, and outcomes in children, both in practice and through research.