Exploration of the WOCQ tool in relation to gender and psychometric properties among Swedish patrolling police officers

• Police work is a stressful occupation with frequent exposure to traumatic events. In Sweden knowledge about coping strategies among police personnel is absent probably due to lack of validated measurements. Aim of this study was to explore psychometric properties of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WOCQ) among Swedish police personnel, including testing differential item functioning (DIF) for gender. The WOCQ was sent out to 1554 randomly selected patrolling police officers in Sweden. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used. A six factor solution was confirmed with differences and similarities compared to the original eight factor solution. DIF analysis showed similarities and differences in relation to gender. We suggest that the WOCQ can be used when investigating coping strategies in a Swedish police context. 

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Swedish police

coping

factor analysis

differential item functioning

gender

omvårdnadsforskning med medicinsk inriktning

Caring Sciences

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

ovr (subject category)