Coping Flexibility in Young Adults: Cross-Cultural Validation of the Coping Flexibility Scale (CFS) across Six Countries

The present study assessed the psychometric properties and cross-cultural validity of the Coping Flexibility Scale (CFS; Kato, 2012) among young adults aged 18-25 years from six countries (Spain, Argentina, the United States, Canada, England, and South Africa). Two independent samples were used: a multinational sample of university students (Study 1; n = 3,753) and a Spanish community sample of people who use cannabis (Study 2; n = 612). We tested competing structural models, including a 10-item two-factor model and a unidimensional alternative, using confirmatory factor analysis. Consistent with past research, items 2 and 7 showed poor psychometric performance and were removed. The final 8-item unidimensional model showed good fit and internal consistency across countries, sex, cannabis use status, university status, and data collection methods (online vs. face-to-face). Measurement invariance was supported across all groups. Correlations with mental health variables and emotion regulation provided additional evidence of construct validity, showing that higher coping flexibility was linked to better psychological adjustment. However, the relationships with cannabis use outcomes were small or non-significant, indicating that coping flexibility may not directly relate to cannabis consumption in this population. Notably, we validated the CFS among cannabis-using young adults, highlighting its usefulness in both general and at-risk groups. The findings emphasize the cross-cultural applicability of the revised unidimensional CFS and suggest that, in Western contexts, coping flexibility functions as a single adaptive process rather than a dual-process. This validated instrument offers a reliable tool for research and clinical screening of coping flexibility among diverse young adult populations.