PERSONALITY-CORRELATES OF SELF-APPRAISED PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITY - PROBLEM ORIENTATION AND TRAIT AFFECTIVITY

We examined the relations between the components of problem solving ap praisal and trait affectivity in three separate studies. According to the social problem solving model, a positive problem orientation wards off negative affect and promotes positive affect to facilitate effect ive problem solving (D'Zurilla & Nezu, 1989). It was then reasoned tha t two factors on the Problem Solving Inventory (PSI; Heppner, 1988)-Pr oblem Solving Confidence and Personal Control over emotions when probl em solving-constitute facets of the problem orientation component. The refore, these factors should be consistently associated with trait aff ectivity. Multiple regression was used to determine the association be tween the two problem orientation factors and measures of trait positi ve and negative affectivity from the Eysenck Personality Inventory (Ey senck & Eysenck, 1968; Study 1, N = 99), the NEO-Personality Inventory (Costa & McCrae, 1985; Study 2, N = 194), and the Positive and Negati ve Affective Schedule (Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988; Study 3, N = 3 41). The Personal Control and Problem Solving Confidence factors were consistently predictive of negative affectivity; the Confidence factor was the single best predictor of positive affectivity in each study. These findings support the basic tenets regarding the problem orientat ion component in the social problem solving model. Results are discuss ed as they relate to the unresolved theoretical and measurement issues in the assessment of social-cognitive constructs and trait levels of affectivity.