Occupational stress, coping and strain: The combined/interactive effect of the Big Five traits

Past research on personality and the occupational stressor–strain relationship has examined traits independently (nomothetic approach) rather than interactively (idiographic approach). The current research examined the combined/interactive effect of the Big Five traits in predicting stress, coping, and strain among 211 managers. Low Neuroticism with high Extraversion and high Conscientiousness predicted lower stressor exposure, physical ill health and job dissatisfaction, whereas high Neuroticism-low Conscientiousness predicted higher stressor exposure, dysfunctional coping, physical ill health and job dissatisfaction, and lower problem-focused coping. In addition, there was some evidence for a high Neuroticism-low Agreeableness interaction in the prediction of job dissatisfaction. Nomothetic and idiographic approaches should be integrated in future research to advance a more complete understanding of the role of personality in occupational stress and strain.