title: The effects of conscientiousness on the appraisals of daily stressors.
abstract: Conscientiousness (C) is positively associated with health and longevity although the mechanisms underlying this relationship are not fully understood. Stress may play a role in explaining the C-longevity relationship. This study investigated whether C predicted the cognitive appraisals of daily stressors/hassles. Participants (N=102) completed measures of C and cognitive appraisal in relation to the most stressful hassle they had experienced in the last 7 days. Correlational analysis revealed that Total C, Order and Industriousness were positively correlated with primary appraisals, and Responsibility was positively correlated with secondary appraisals. The facets of C were then entered into hierarchical regression models, controlling for age and gender. This demonstrated that Order (β=0.27, p<0.05) and Industriousness (β=0.28, p<0.05) significantly predicted primary appraisals, accounting for 15.8% of the variance. Responsibility significantly predicted secondary appraisals (β=0.44, p<0.01), accounting for 16.3% of the variance. These findings indicate that higher Order and Industriousness are related to having a greater stake in daily stressors, whereas higher Responsibility is related to greater confidence in one's ability to deal with daily stressors. These results are the first demonstration that C is related to the appraisals of daily hassles and suggest that C may moderate the experience of stress in daily life.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK. N.K.Gartland07@leeds.ac.uk
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gartland
authors.forename: Daryl B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lawton
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003242:Conscience; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D012941:Social Responsibility; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult