| Abstract: | This article reports the development and validation of the Personal Functioning Inventory (PFI), a new measure of adaptiveness in coping. In Study 1, two adult samples (Ns of 105 and 101) showed the PFI to be highly reliable and to correlate substantially with a summed rating scale for adaptiveness. Study 2 with 140 undergraduates again showed the PH to be highly reliable and to relate positively to problem-solving confidence and negatively to perceived stress. Study 3, a two-wave longitudinal study with a three-week intersession interval, involved 149 undergraduates at Time 1 and retained 107 at Time 2. It demonstrated strong reliability and stability for the PFI, concurrent and predictive positive relations with selfrated adaptiveness and prolonged state anxiety, and discriminant validity against abstract curiosity. Factor analyses consistently supported a one-factor structure for the PFI. Possible applications for the scale are noted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
