Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire – First Version (COPSOQ I)
A comprehensive instrument assessing psychosocial factors at work, health, and well-being.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire – First Version (COPSOQ I) was developed by Kristensen, T. S., Hannerz, H., Høgh, A., & Borg, V. (2005). It is designed to measure Psychosocial work environment and employee health. The scale is intended for use with Working adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 158 items organized into 31 factors/subscales: Quantitative Demands, Cognitive Demands, Emotional Demands, Demands for Hiding Emotions, Sensorial Demands, Demands for Responsibility at Work, Influence at Work, Possibilities for Development, Degree of Freedom at Work, Meaning of Work, Commitment to the Workplace, Predictability, Role-Clarity, Role-Conflicts, Quality of Leadership, Social Support, Feedback at Work, Social Relations, Sense of Community, Insecurity at Work, Job Satisfaction, General Health, Mental Health, Vitality, Behavioural Stress, Somatic Stress, Cognitive Stress, Sense of Coherence, Problem Focused Coping, Selective Coping, Resigning Coping.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Demands | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 | 8 |
| Cognitive Demands | 9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17 | 9 |
| Emotional Demands | 18,19,20,21 | 4 |
| Demands for Hiding Emotions | 22,23 | 2 |
| Sensorial Demands | 24,25,26,27,28,29 | 6 |
| Demands for Responsibility at Work | 30,31,32 | 3 |
| Influence at Work | 33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42 | 10 |
| Possibilities for Development | 43,44,45,46,47,48,49 | 7 |
| Degree of Freedom at Work | 50,51,52,53 | 4 |
| Meaning of Work | 54,55,56,57,58 | 5 |
| Commitment to the Workplace | 59,60,61,62 | 4 |
| Predictability | 63,64,65 | 3 |
| Role-Clarity | 66,67,68,69 | 4 |
| Role-Conflicts | 70,71,72,73 | 4 |
| Quality of Leadership | 74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81 | 8 |
| Social Support | 82,83,84,85 | 4 |
| Feedback at Work | 86,87 | 2 |
| Social Relations | 88,89,90 | 3 |
| Sense of Community | 91,92,93 | 3 |
| Insecurity at Work | 94,95,96,97,98 | 5 |
| Job Satisfaction | 99,100,101,102,103,104,105,106 | 8 |
| General Health | 107,108,109,110,111 | 5 |
| Mental Health | 112,113,114,115,116 | 5 |
| Vitality | 117,118,119,120 | 4 |
| Behavioural Stress | 121,122,123,124,125,126,127,128 | 8 |
| Somatic Stress | 129,130,131,132,133,134,135 | 7 |
| Cognitive Stress | 136,137,138,139 | 4 |
| Sense of Coherence | 140,141,142,143,144,145,146,147,148 | 9 |
| Problem Focused Coping | 149,150,151,152 | 4 |
| Selective Coping | 153,154,155,156 | 4 |
| Resigning Coping | 157,158 | 2 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Always / To a very large extent, 2 = Often / To a large extent, 3 = Sometimes / Somewhat, 4 = Seldom / To a small extent, 5 = Never / To a very small extent.
The scale includes 18 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 100. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low level of the dimension: 0 – 50
- High level of the dimension: 51 – 100
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Varies by subscale (typically Cronbach's alpha 0.70 – 0.90).
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.