Personality traits and stress coping strategies among Albanian young adulthoods

Abstract

Personality is defined as a set of general, consistent, and distinct patterns of behavior displayed as a reaction to the environment.. As personality traits differ across individuals, so do stress coping strategies. Therefore some people use healthier coping strategies (e.g., Active coping, Positive reframing, Planning, Humor etc.) as compared to others, who might employ Self-distraction, Denial, Substance use, Behavioral disengagement etc. The present study aimed to assess whether personality traits (e.g., neuroticism, extraversion, conscientiousness etc.) determine the choice of a specific coping strategy (adaptive or maladaptive). Methodology The sample included 255 participants (Mage=26.45years, SD=4.4years), 169 women and 86 men. The measuring instrument was a self-report questionnaire; The Brief Big Five Inventory (BFI) questionnaire was used to measure the 5 personality traits while The Brief Cope questionnaire was used to measure the stress management techniques. Results showed that Neuroticism correlated positively with less adaptive coping strategies, such as self-blame (r=.32 p<.01), substance use 80 POLIS No. 18, ISSUE 2/ 2019 (r=.17, p<.01), venting (r=.15, p<.05) and behavioral disengagement (r=.12, p<.05) but negatively correlated with adaptive coping strategies such as humor (r= -.18, p<.01) and active coping (r= -.31, p<.01). Extraversion positively correlated with several adaptive coping strategies such as active coping (r=.19, p<.01), positive reframing (r=.21, p<.01) planning (r=.17, p<.01), humor (r=.27, p<.01) etc. Conscientiousness was also positively correlated with several adaptive coping strategies such as planning (r=.39, p<.01), religion (r=.16, p<.05) and active coping (r=.24, p<.01), and negatively correlated with maladaptive coping strategies such as denial (r= -.16, p<.05) and substance use (r= -.24, p<.01). Agreeableness was positively correlated with several adaptive coping strategies (e.g., use of instrumental support (r=.22, p<.01), active coping (r=.24, p<.01), and negatively correlated with maladaptive coping strategies such as behavioral disengagement, (r= -.12, p<.05) and substance use (r= -.15, p<.05). Openness to experience also showed positive significant relationships with several adaptive strategies such as active coping (r=.23, p<.01), positive reframing (r=.23, p<.01), planning (r=.27, p<.01), humor (r=.19, p<.01), etc.. Results supported the claim that personality characteristics are relevant in the choice of coping strategies, particularly as regards the distinction between healthy and unhealthy coping. Findings are discussed in the context of theoretical and practical implications.