Ways of coping in survivors of suicide.

The purpose of this pilot study was to describe ways in which survivors cope after a death by suicide of a family member or significant other and to explore the psychometric properties of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WoCQ). An examination of inter-item correlations indicated that subscales were unidimensional and reliabilities ranged from α = .57 to α = .82. Construct validity was established by correlating the WoCQ subscales with other established instruments. Females used Seeking Social Support and Positive Reappraisal significantly more than males (p < .05). Interventions to enhance positive coping strategies may assist future survivors in managing the death of a significant other by suicide.