Personality and the Coping Process

Bolger (1990) conducted a study that examined the influence of neuroticism upon the coping process, psychological distress, and performance outcome. Bolger\u27s (1990) results argued that neuroticism influences individuals to cope maladaptively, which then produces increases in distress. The primary purpose of this study was to further examine the relationship between neuroticism, coping, psychological distress and performance outcomes utilizing a homogenous stressor (General Psychology third examination). The present study involved two primary sets of analyses that paralleled the analyses performed in the Bolger (1990) study. The first analyses examined whether coping mediates the relationship between neuroticism and changes in anxiety scores upon exposure to a stressor. The second of the analyses examined the influence of neuroticism upon performance outcome. The present study attempted to address limitations in the Bolger (1990) study. Participants for the study were recruited from the spring 1990 General Psychology courses at Fort Hays State University. Measures of personality (NEO PI -R), prior academic performance (GPA), and demographics were obtained 18 to 21 days prior to the third examination. Students reported their state-anxiety and their coping efforts at 7 days prior, 3 or 4 days prior, and 1 or 2 days following the examination