Ways of Religious Coping Scale (WORCS)

Boudreaux‚ Edwin. Catz‚ .Ryan‚ Laurie. Amaral-Mendez‚ Marta & Brantley‚ Phillip J .1995
 
The following how you handle stressful situations. A “stressful situation” is any event that is difficult or troubling for you‚ because you feel distressed about what is happening or because you have to use considerable effort to deal with the situation. The situation may involve your family‚ your job‚ your friends‚ or something else important to you.
Read each statement and indicate how often you engage in the following behaviors when in a stressful situation. Indicate your answer by circling the number. Please respond to every item.
USE THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
0. not at all/does not apply
1. sometimes
2. often
3. very often
4. always
1. I say prayers.
0 1 2 3 4
2. I read scriptures.
0 1 2 3 4
3. I attend a religious support group.
0 1 2 3 4
4. I allow the holy spirit to direct my actions.
0 1 2 3 4
5. I confess to God.
0 1 2 3 4
6. I do not pray. R
0 1 2 3 4
7. I get support from church members.
0 1 2 3 4
8. I talk to church leaders.
0 1 2 3 4
9. I look for a lesson from God in the situation.
0 1 2 3 4
10. I try to be less sinful
0 1 2 3 4
11. I pray to God for inspiration.
0 1 2 3 4
12. I try to make up for my mistakes.
0 1 2 3 4
13. I put my problems in God’s hands.
0 1 2 3 4
14. I pray for strength.
0 1 2 3 4
15. I talk to church members.
0 1 2 3 4
16. I count my blessings.
0 1 2 3 4
17. I talk to my minister/ preacher
0 1 2 3 4
18. I recall a Scripture.
0 1 2 3 4
19. I stop going to religious services. R
0 1 2 3 4
20. I get help from clergy.
0 1 2 3 4
21. I use a Bible story to help solve a problem.
0 1 2 3 4
22. I pray for the help of a religious figure.
0 1 2 3 4
23. I solve problems without God’s help. R
0 1 2 3 4
24. I ask for God’s forgiveness.
0 1 2 3 4
25. I donate time to a religious cause.
0 1 2 3 4
26. I ask my religious leader for advice.
0 1 2 3 4
27. I share my religious beliefs with others
0 1 2 3 4
28. I think about Jesus as my friend.
0 1 2 3 4
29. I get involved with church activities.
0 1 2 3 4
30. I give money to a religious organization.
0 1 2 3 4
31. I base life decisions on my religious beliefs.
 
32. I find peace by going to a religious place.
0 1 2 3 4
33. I ask someone to pray for me.
0 1 2 3 4
34. I ask for a blessing.
0 1 2 3 4
35. I pray for help.
0 1 2 3 4
36. I go to a religious counselor.
0 1 2 3 4
37. I work with God to solve problems.
0 1 2 3 4
38. I find peace sharing problems with God.
0 1 2 3 4
39. I stop reading Scripture. R
0 1 2 3 4
40. I recite a psalm.
0 1 2 3 4
 
ASSESS YOUR SCORE & STYLE OF RELIGIOUS COPING
When scoring‚ reverse Items with an “R”; in other words‚ a score of 3 = 1; a score of 4 = 0
Add up your score and see if your ways of coping are external (social) or internal (privately)
1. Internal/private – items 1‚ 5‚ 12‚ 14‚ 15‚ 16‚ 24‚ 28‚ 31-35‚ 37‚ and 38
2. External/social – items 7‚ 8‚ 17‚ 20‚ 25‚ 26‚ 29‚ 30‚ 36‚ and 40
 
This instrument can be found on pages 128-129 of Initial Development and Validation of the Assessment of Beliefs and Behaviors in Coping (ABC). Available online at: http://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/handle/2152/ETD-UT-2012-08-6020
 
chipts.ucla.edu/downloads/211
 

Boudreaux‚ E.‚ Catz‚ S.‚ Ryan‚ L.‚ & Amaral-Melendez‚ M. (1995). The Ways of Religious Coping Scale: Reliability‚ validity‚ and scale development. Assessment‚ 2(3)‚ 233-244.

Kulkarni‚ Monique Shah. (2012). Initial Development and Validation of the Assessment of Beliefs and Behaviors in Coping (ABC). Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of The University of Texas at Austin in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The University of Texas at Austin August 2012

 
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