Coping efforts in daily life: Role of big five traits and problem appraisals

The role of problem appraisal and Big Five traits in coping with bothersome daily events was investigated. Community-residing men completed diaries re garding stressful events and coping for eight consecutive days. Results of multi-level analyses indicated that lower perceived control over events was associated with greater reliance on distraction, catharsis, acceptance, se eking emotional social support, but less use of direct action. Stressor sev erity was positively associated with catharsis and religion, but negatively associated with acceptance. Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to experie nce, and Conscientiousness predicted coping strategy use. In addition, broa d personality dimensions moderated relations between appraisals (perceived uncontrollability and severity) and coping strategy use. Although previous research implicated perceived control in coping, the present study suggests that both appraisals of stressor severity and individual differences in pe rsonality are also important determinants of coping strategy use at the dai ly level.