Coping Skills Questionnaire
Programmed by Ed Conduit, Clinical Psychologist, based on Donald Meichenbaum's theory
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Assertiveness
IMAGINE YOU HAVE TO TAKE A FAULTY ELECTRICAL ITEM BACK TO A STORE. THE PERSON WHO ATTENDS TO YOU SAYS THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE. DO YOU:
Persist in achieving a replacement without feeling annoyed
Shout or raise your voice
Give up after a while

AS A YOUNG ADULT HOW OFTEN DID YOU GET ANGRY?
(Think of age 16 to 25; if under 25, describe yourself now)

Frequently got angry - maybe several times a week I was angry for an hour or more
I often got angry - maybe once or twice a week
I sometimes got angry, but it was usually short-lived
I only occasionally got angry
Cannot say

YOU WANT CASH FOR YOUR HOLIDAYS. YOU REACH THE COUNTER IN A BANK QUEUE, ONLY TO BE TOLD YOU HAVE BEEN QUEUEING AT THE WRONG COUNTER.
IF YOU CHANGE QUEUES YOU WILL ARRIVE BACK 20 MINS LATE. WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

I would join the correct queue, and control my annoyance
I would insist on being served where I was, or ask to see the manager
I would be so annoyed that I would not wait, and would fume for some time

Problem-solving
WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM DO YOU WRITE DOWN ALL THE COMPONENTS OF THAT PROBLEM ?
Yes
Sometimes
No

IF YOU ARE PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS HOW DO YOU APPROACH GETTING EVERYTHING READY ?
Make a list of all that you have to do
Try to get it all done at once
Make a list and put them in order of importance
Follow no strategy at all

DO YOU ALWAYS SET YOURSELF REALISTIC GOALS OR DO YOU SET YOUR SIGHTS TOO HIGH ?
I always set realistic goals
I sometimes set realistic goals
My goals are always too high

DO YOU EVER FEEL TOTALLY OVERWHELMED BY A PROBLEM ?
Yes
Sometimes
No

Communication
IF A COLLEAGUE IS LATE I AM ABLE TO EASE THE SITUATION BY MAKING "SMALL TALK" UNTIL THEY ARRIVE
True
False

I THINK THAT LIFE WOULD BE LESS STRESSFUL IF I COULD EXPRESS MYSELF MORE CLEARLY
True
False

Time Management
I KEEP A DIARY OR PLANNER OF EVERYDAY EVENTS
True
False

WHEN I EAT I USUALLY TAKE MY TIME
True
False

I FEEL THAT THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH TIME TO GET THINGS DONE
True
False

I ALWAYS MANAGE TO GET A HAIRCUT
True
False

I FREQUENTLY SEEM TO SPEND MORE TIME AT WORK OR DOING WORK THAN I INTEND TO
True
False

Parenting
IF YOUR 15 YEAR OLD SON WISHED TO GO OUT LATE AT THE WEEKEND BUT YOU AS A PARENT WERE NATURALLY CONCERNED WOULD YOU
Let him have his own way
Compromise and arrange a suitable time to come home and a telephone call to let you know where he is
Not allow him to go
I do not have any children

DO YOU EVER USE BARGAINING OR COMPROMISING WITH AN AWKWARD CHILD?
Yes
No
No children or not applicable

HAVE YOU EVER USED A POINTS SYSTEM FOR REWARDING A CHILD FOR A TASK SUCH AS KEEPING A ROOM TIDY?
Yes
No
No children or not applicable

Relaxation ability
HAVE YOU PRACTISED SOME FORMAL RELAXATION TECHNIQUE?
Yes, I am good at progressive muscle relaxation or meditation
I have tried, but never keep it up
No

HOW MUCH DOES THE STRESS IN YOUR LIFE AFFECT YOUR SLEEP?
I always get a good night
Worries often stop me getting to sleep
Worry affects my sleep a lot, so that I often dont get as much sleep as I need

I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO UNWIND
Most of the time
A lot of the time
From time to time
Not at all

I SOMETIMES TAKE A BATH MERELY TO RELAX
True
False

Attention Diversion
WHEN IN A QUEUE I WILL TRY TO THINK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE TO STOP MYSELF BECOMING TENSE
Always
A lot of the time
Sometimes
Never

WHEN I FEEL ANNOYED I FIND RELIEF IN A PHYSICAL SPORT eg SQUASH OR CRAWL SWIMMING
True
False

WHEN HAVING AN INJECTION, I EASE MY FEAR BY THINKING OF SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
True
False

Social Support
IF I HAD A LEGAL PROBLEM, E.G. A COURT APPEARANCE FOR SPEEDING :
I would get emotional support from family or friends
I might try to talk about it, but this is not particuarly helpful
I would keep quiet about it

IF I HAD A BEREAVEMENT OR SERIOUS LOSS
I know people would help me a lot
I am not sure how much help I would get get
I would try to manage alone

Perspective-taking
IF I FIND MYSELF IN A STRESSFUL SITUATION (FOR EXAMPLE BEING LATE DUE TO THE TRAIN NOT ARRIVING ) I WILL TELL MYSELF THAT IT WAS UNAVOIDABLE AND NOT MY FAULT.
Most of the time
A lot of the time
From time to time
Never

IF I AM UNAVOIDABLY DETAINED AT WORK, I WILL EASE MY TENSION BY THINKING THAT I WILL SOON BE HOME
True
False

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