Relationship of Personality Characteristics with Perceived Stress and Stress Management in Military Aircrew

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship among personality characteristics according to Five Factor theory, perceived stress and stress coping strategies in naval/military air crew. The research findings provide better understanding of personality profiles, levels of stress and stress coping strategies of aviators to develop more progressive selection, training and safety programs for naval aviation. The survey included the Big Five Personality Inventory (BFI-44) (John, 2007), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) (Cohen et al., 1983) and Stress Coping Resource Inventory- A Self Assessment (Kenneth & Christopher, 2000). Sixty aviators including pilots and technical coordinators participated in the research. The sample was obtained through purposive sampling from naval aviation base. All the participants of study were male with different age groups. The hypotheses assumed that there would be a significant relationship between personality characteristics (extroversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness to experience and neuroticism) and perceived stress among naval/military aviators. Secondly there would be a significant relationship between personality characteristics and stress management in naval/military aircrew. The results of study show that personality characteristics not merely influence how people perceive stress, but also affect how people manage their life stress. Pearson Product Correlation Coefficient was used for statistical analysis of data. According to research findings Big Five personality characteristics including Extraversion, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness have significant correlation with perceived stress, p-0.025, p=0.009 and p=0,000 respectively. However no relationship was found between Openness to Experience and Perceived Stress Scale. Whereas a significant relationship was found between Neuroticism and higher level of stress (p=G.002).Likewise Extraversion (p=0.005), Conscientiousness (p=0.000), Agreeableness (p=0.000% and Openness to experience (p=0.002) are correlated with high scores on Stress Coping Resource Inventory. Whereas Neuroticism is also significantly correlated with low score on Stress Coping Resource Inventory (p=0.000). Additional research is required to increase the sample size in this study and to keep track of aviators’ performance in their careers in long term.