Extraversion Personality Traits and Social Support as Determinants of Coping Responses among Individuals with HIV/AIDs

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between extraversion personality trait, social support and coping responses among individuals with HIV/AIDS. After detailed literature review, following hypotheses were formulated a. There would be a positive correlation between Extraversion and problem-focused coping in individual with HIV/AIDS. b. Social support play a role as mediating factor in the relationship between coping responses and Extraversion in individual with HIV/AIDS. This study is based on co-relational research design. The sample consisted of 60 participants, selected from different organizations and hospitals that deal with HIV/AIDS patients. As in Karachi (Pakistan) most of the identified HIV/AIDS cases were substance addicts, hence the entire sample was of male substance addicts; selected in order to study the phenomenon from their perspective. The age range of the participants was from 18 to 50 years (mean age; 32 years; SD=8.4). After taking the consent from the participants, NEO Five factor Inventory NEOFFI; [1] (Urdu translation), The Coping Responses Inventory- Adult Form CRIAdult; [2] (Urdu translation) and Multidimensional Scale for Perceived social support [3], (Urdu translation) were administered to measure personality traits, coping responses and level of social support respectively. Prior to the administration of tests permission for Urdu translation was taken from the publishers. To obtain the results descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment co-efficient of correlation and step-wise regression were calculated. It was found that there is a significant positive relationship between extraversion and problem-focused coping (r = 0.420, p< 0.001) and it was found that extraversion predicts problem focused coping responses (F, 6.105, p< 0.05). Research findings from the present study showed that those HIV/AIDS patients who have extraversion personality traits are more likely to use problem focused coping in order to cope with their disease and social support is a medicating factor in coping. Avenues for further research have also been suggested.