The Food Allergy COPE Inventory: Adaptation and Psychometric Properties

Background Food allergy (FA) has been shown to have an adverse impact on food allergy quality of life (FAQL). To more fully understand this impact, correlates and predictors of FAQL must be reliably measured. Coping is one such factor. In the present study (n = 200), we sought to adapt the widely used COPE Inventory and its 15 distinct strategies to food allergy, named FA COPE Inventory. More specifically, we propose a long (60-item) and short (30-item) version of the measure. Methods To examine the robustness of the newly adapted FA COPE Inventory, we tested whether the 15-factor structure of the adapted version would present good psychometrical properties, using gold standard psychometric techniques. We used Confirmatory Factor Analysis to assess model fit, McDonald’s omega, and inter-item correlations to assess reliability, and Pearson’s correlation to assess convergent validity with a generic coping measure and satisfaction with FA life. Results Our results showed a good model fit (e.g., CFI and TLI ≥ .94) for the 15-factor structure of the measure's long and short version. These factors also presented reliability levels aligned with the coping literature. Finally, the majority of the FA-COPE Inventory factors (e.g., acceptance) were significantly associated with the generic coping measure and satisfaction with FA life. Conclusion Both the long and short adapted FA COPE Inventory showed a good fit to food allergy issues. These measures can help facilitate the identification of the most commonly used strategies to deal with FA. Their use can lead to a more in-depth understanding of the impact of the coping strategies and how they can help improve the quality of life of those impacted by the disease.