Neuroticism, coping and change in MCMI‐II clinical syndromes: test of a mediator model

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine prospectively whether coping mediated the relation between Neuroticism and change in different clinical mental syndromes. Assessments were conducted with 154 former psychiatric outpatients six and seven years after their initial contact with an outpatient clinic. Dispositional coping mediated the relation between Neuroticism and change in four of the nine clinical scales of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-II) (Millon, 1987). High Neuroticism led to coping strategies of disengagement and the venting of emotions and to a lack of problem-focused coping, which in turn translated into a relative increase on the MCMI-II scales. The mediator model of coping was found to apply to the MCMI-II scales 'somatoform disorder', 'dysthymia', 'alcohol dependence' and 'thought disorder'. Results are discussed under the perspective of an integration of the positions of the transactional theory of stress and personality psychology.

Impact of maternal negative affectivity on light alcohol use and binge drinking during pregnancy

“…Negative affectivity is associated with higher vulnerability to stress, more intense emotional reactions in daily situations, and a tendency to use intoxicating substances, including alcohol, when confronted with stress (8)(9)(10). To date, only a few smaller studies have investigated the association between negative affectivity and alcohol use in pregnancy, with inconsistent results.…”

Relationships between Personality and Coping with Stress: An Investigation in Swedish Police Trainees

“…For example, individuals scoring high on the neuroticism dimension of the "Big Five" personality model are more often engaged in passive or maladaptive coping behaviours such as hostile reactions, escape fantasies, self blame, withdrawal, wishful thinking, indecisiveness, or other types of passivity, whereas those scoring high in extraversion more often used active, approaching and rational problem solving behaviours or substitution (McCrae & Costa, 1986;Lau, Hem, Berg, Ekeberg, & Torgersen, 2006). Individuals scoring high in conscientiousness have also been characterised by active coping and refraining from passive coping (Vollrath, Torgersen, & Alnaes, 1998). Similar but more differentiated findings were reported applying a personality typology based on high or low scorers on the three above mentioned personality characteristics by Vollrath and Torgersen (2000).…”

The impact of maternal negative affectivity on dietary patterns of 18‐month‐old children in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study

“…Persons high in NA are emotionally unstable, experience anxiety, anger and sadness frequently and tend to see the world in a negative light (Watson & Clark 1984). They are highly vulnerable to stress and tend to prematurely give up their goals in the face of obstacles (Vollrath et al . 1998; Vollrath 2001).…”