Glossary / Lexicon

Multidimensional Coping Inventory (MCI; Endler & Parker, 1988), an early version of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS; Endler & Parker, 1990c), is a 66 item, self -re port multidimensional instrument which measures task-oriented (19 items), emotion-oriented (12 items) and avoidance-oriented (13 items) coping styles. The MCI also includes 22 buffer items. Examples of items are "work to understand the situation" (task-oriented), "blame myself for procrastinating" (emotion-oriented), and "treat myself to a favourite food or snack" (avoidance-oriented). Respondents indicate, on a five (5) point intensity scale, ranging from "not at all" (1) to "very much" (5), the extent to which they engage in various types of activities when they encounter a difficult, stressful or upsetting situation.