Personality Complexity in Stress Coping: Unpacking Personality Facets and Coping Strategies in a White-Collar Context

Despite extensive research on the interplay among personality, coping mechanisms, and stress, limited attention has been given to job-related stress, and fewer studies have investigated the role of coping in the relationship between personality and Job Stress. This study investigated how personality impacts coping strategies and Job Stress by examining both broader personality dimensions and specific facets. The sample consisted of 570 Malaysian employees aged between 21-60 years old, working full-time in white-collar occupations. Data was collected through an online questionnaire utilizing the following measures: International Personality Item Pool, Brief Job Stress Questionnaire and Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory. The findings revealed significant associations between personality, coping and Job Stress. Neuroticism was significantly associated with increased Job Stress (β=.538, p≤.001) as well as increased use of Avoidance (β=.176, p≤.001) and Seeking Support (β=.350, p≤.001) as coping strategies. Furthermore, Conscientiousness was associated with greater use of Problem-Focused strategies (β=.336, p≤.001) and Seeking Support strategies (β=.132, p≤.01). In contrast, Extraversion predicted increased utilization of Avoidance (β=.176, p≤.001), Problem-Focused (β=.219, p≤.001), Seeking Support (β=.372, p≤.001), Religion (β=.111, p≤.05) and Humour (β=.252, p≤.001). When personality facets were observed, it was found that the Neuroticism facets, Anxiety and Depression, the Conscientiousness facets, Self-Efficacy and Self-Discipline, and the Extraversion facets, Friendliness and Cheerfulness, produced the most consistent results with Job Stress and coping strategies. The overall findings provide a deep insight into stress management among white-collar employees, and on specific personality dimensions and facets that either increase vulnerability or resilience to workplace stressors.