Coping strategies in families in the southern region of Angola

This study aimed at validating the F-COPES instrument in the southern region of Angola, province of Huila, in order to compare the coping strategies used by sick and non-sick families in stressful family situations. The sample was composed of 280 subjects of both sexes, ranging in age from 18 to 70 years old, mostly military personnel who attended the Military Hospital of the 5th Southern Region and the 60th Brigade of the same Region, located in the Municipality of Matala, Huila Province, subdivided into two groups: 140 sick (experimental group) and 140 not sick (control group). The statistical results showed acceptable values of reliability of the instrument (F-COPES) applied in this region, but the validation study of the factorial structure of the instrument showed differences in relation to the validation study of the instrument in Portugal.