Coping Inventory for Paralympic Athletes in Competition Situations (ICAP)

Abstract

The Coping Inventory for Paralympic Athletes in Competition Situations (ICAP) is a specialized psychological instrument developed to measure the coping strategies utilized by physically and visually impaired Paralympic Athletes during competitive sporting events. Its development, as described by Bertoldi et al. (2023), is theoretically grounded in the established Motivational Coping Theory (TMC) proposed by Skinner and colleagues (2003, 1994, 2016).

The initial version of the ICAP comprised 95 items, which were refined following pilot testing with a sample of Brazilian Paralympic athletes aged 18 and older. The final inventory consists of 91 items distributed across twelve distinct theoretical dimensions. Preliminary research has successfully provided evidence for the content validity of the instrument, positioning the ICAP as a valuable, specialized tool for researchers and practitioners in Sports Psychology.

Keywords

Accommodation, Coping Motivational Theory, Coping Strategies, Delegation, Escape, Helplessness, Information-Seeking, Negotiation, Opposition, Paralympic Athletes, Problem-Solving, Self-Reliance, Social Isolation, Sport Competition, Sports Psychology, Submission, Support-Seeking.

Authors

Bertoldi, Rafaela; da Silva, Mônia Aparecida; Ribeiro Bandeira, Paulo Felipe; Bandeira, Denise Ruschel; Mazo, Janice Zarpellon.

Purpose

The primary objective of the ICAP is the systematic evaluation of coping strategies employed by athletes with physical and visual impairments specifically in the high-pressure context of competitive sport. It aims to provide a reliable framework for understanding how these athletes manage competitive stress, challenges, and setbacks inherent to their unique athletic environment.

Construct

The ICAP is explicitly constructed around the principles of the Motivational Coping Theory (TMC). This theory posits that coping is a dynamic process involving goal-directed attempts to manage stress and challenges. The instrument operationalizes 12 core dimensions of coping behavior relevant to the competitive athletic environment, capturing both active, approach-oriented coping and passive, avoidance-oriented coping styles.

The 91 items are grouped into the following twelve dimensions:

• Self-Reliance
• Support-Seeking
• Problem-Solving
• Information-Seeking
• Accommodation
• Negotiation
• Delegation
• Social Isolation
• Helplessness
• Escape
• Submission
• Opposition

Validity

The initial validation efforts for the ICAP focused on establishing robust content validity. During the expert review phase, the majority of the items demonstrated strong relevance and clarity. Specifically, only four items out of the total analyzed failed to meet the stringent Content Validity Coefficient (CVC) criterion of 0.80 or greater.

This evidence confirms that the scale items adequately represent the intended domain of coping strategies as defined by the underlying theoretical framework, making the instrument highly relevant for assessing the competitive experiences of Paralympic Athletes.

Reliability

As of the publication of the initial validation study (Bertoldi et al., 2023), comprehensive data regarding the reliability of the ICAP is not yet available. This includes essential measures such as internal consistency (e.g., Cronbach’s Alpha) and test-retest reliability. Further studies assessing these psychometric property aspects are currently underway or anticipated.

Factor Analysis

Data concerning the underlying factor structure of the ICAP, typically derived through exploratory or confirmatory factor analysis (EFA/CFA), is currently unavailable. Such analysis is necessary to empirically confirm whether the 91 items truly cluster into the theoretically proposed twelve dimensions derived from the Motivational Coping Theory.

Instrument

Test Type: Original Inventory/Questionnaire

Format: The ICAP is versatile and can be administered efficiently in both electronic (digital) and traditional paper formats.

Language Available: No language data is currently available, suggesting the primary version is the one used in the Brazilian pilot study.

Population Group: Human (Male and Female).

Age Group: Adulthood (18 years and older), specifically tested across Young Adulthood (18–29 years) and Thirties (30–39 years).

Population Details: The initial development and pilot testing were conducted in Brazil with Paralympic Athletes who possess physical or visual impairments, specifically those aged between 21 and 37 years.

Test Methodology: The foundational development methodology emphasized Test Validity, with a specific focus on establishing robust Content Validity during the initial construction phase.

Keywords

Content Validity Coefficient (CVC), Psychometric property, Paralympic Sport, Motivational Coping Theory, Self-Report Inventory, Brazilian Athletes, Disability Sport, 91-Item Scale, Coping.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier:

• Bertoldi, Rafaela: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9201-0131
• Bandeira, Denise Ruschel: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9867-2718

Affiliation Email addresses:

• Bertoldi, Rafaela: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Dance Human Movement Sciences Graduate Program
• da Silva, Mônia Aparecida: Federal University of São João Del-Rei Graduate Program in Psychology
• Ribeiro Bandeira, Paulo Felipe: Regional University of Cariri Department of Physical Education
• Bandeira, Denise Ruschel: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul Graduate Program in Psychology
• Mazo, Janice Zarpellon: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Dance Human Movement Sciences Graduate Program
• Corresponding Author Email: [email protected]

Correspondence Address:

• Bertoldi, Rafaela: [email protected]

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Permissions: Permissions for the use of the ICAP must be obtained by contacting the Corresponding Author directly.

Fee: There is no fee required for the academic or research use of this instrument.

Test Year: 2023

Reference’s

Bertoldi, R., da Silva, M. A., Ribeiro Bandeira, P. F., Bandeira, D. R., & Mazo, J. Z. (2023). Construction and content validity evidences of Coping Inventory for Brazilian Paralympic Athletes in Competition Situations. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 70(5), 885–898. DOI: 10.1080/1034912X.2021.1916894

Skinner, E. A., Edge, K., Altman, J., & Sherwood, H. (2003). Searching for the structure of coping: A review and critique of category systems for classifying ways of coping. Psychological Bulletin, 129(2), 216–269.

Skinner, E. A., & Wellborn, J. G. (1994). Coping in the structure of action and agency. In D. Cicchetti & S. L. Toth (Eds.), Rochester symposium on developmental psychopathology: Vol. 5. Disorders and dysfunctions of the self (pp. 139–175). University of Rochester Press.

Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Skinner, E. A. (2016). The development of coping: Implications for psychopathology and youth programs. Developmental Psychology, 52(12), 2009–2040.

Items of the Coping Inventory for Paralympic Athletes in Competition Situations (ICAP)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

The ICAP is a 91-item measure, with items grouped into the following factors and subscales:

• Self-reliance
• Support-seeking
• Problem-solving
• Information-seeking
• Accommodation
• Negotiation
• Delegation
• Social isolation
• Helplessness
• Escape
• Submission
• Opposition