Coping with daily stress The role of conscientiousness

The current study examined how specific coping strategies mediate the relationship between Conscientiousness (C) and positive affect (PA) in a large multiethnic sample Using an Internet-based daily diary approach 366 participants (37 6% Caucasian 30 6% Asian American 20 7% Hispanic 9 1% African American) completed measures that assessed daily stressors coping strategies used to deal with those stressors and PA over the course of five days In addition participants completed a measure of the Five Factor Model of Personality Problem-Focused coping partially mediated the relationship between C and PA Individuals higher in C used more Problem-Focused coping which in turn was associated with higher PA The findings of the current study suggest C serves as a protective factor from stress through its influence on coping strategy selection Other possible mediators in the C-PA relationship are discussed (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved