The Assessment of Dispositional Coping with Expectation Violations

Introduction: Research on coping with expectation violations shows that individual coping behavior can be split into situational (i.e., variable) and dispositional (i.e., stable) components. Aim: We validated the newly-created CoVEx-Questionnaire, based on the ViolEx Model, to provide an instrument for assessing dispositional tendencies in coping with expectation violations. Methods: We conducted a two-survey validation study to test the psychometric properties of the questionnaire. Results: The final selection of 21 items converges into a prespecified three-factor structure with good to acceptable model fit, scalar invariance, mostly sufficient item and scale coefficients, and sufficient retest-reliability. An additional 12-item short form shows sufficient model fit, measurement equivalence, and retest reliability. Discussion/conclusion: The three factors assess activity to make one’s expectation come true (assimilation), changes of initial expectations (accommodation), and disregard for expectation-violating information (immunization). Relevant correlates and application scenarios for questionnaire use are discussed.