Personality, Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies in Early Adulthood among Students of University of Sargodha.

Author(s) : Muhammad Farooq, Shahnila Tariq, Tahira Kiran

Abstract:

The present research aimed to investigate the personality, perceived stress and coping strategies in early adulthood. It was hypothesized that there is likely to be a significant relationship between personality, perceived stress and coping strategies in early adulthood. The quantitative study design and convenient sampling technique was used for data collection having a sample size of N=180 (70 males and 110 females). Three self reported questionnaires were used for data collection. Personality was measured by Big Five Inventory (BFI) by using its five subscales that are extraversion vs. introversion, agreeableness vs. antagonism, conscientiousness vs. lack of direction, neuroticism vs. emotional stability, and openness vs. closeness to experience (John & Srivastava, 1999). Perceived stress was measured by using perceived stress scale - 14 that was developed by Cohen and his colleagues (1983).Wellness scale, thought control scale, active coping scale, social ease scale, tension reduction scale and spiritual practice scale, the six subscales of Stress Coping Resources Inventory were used to measure the coping strategies.Results indicated that personality subscales are significantly positively correlated with some subscales of coping strategies. It also revealed that perceived stress in negatively correlated with coping strategies and its subscales. However, regression analysis revealed that gender, father’s education, religion and health of the participant are important significant predictors of perceived stress and coping strategies. Furthermore, it was found that Agreeableness and extraversion type of personalities are significant predictors of coping strategies.Result findings also revealed no any significant differences of family system in any main variable of the study.