Personality and coping strategies during submarine missions

Relations between personality profiles, measured by the Personality Charact eristics Inventory (PCI), and habitual coping strategies, measured by the U trecht Coping List (UCL), were investigated in a sample of submarine person nel and office employees. The predictive validity of these instruments were examined for reported stress, health complaints, and salivary cortisone me asures during 3 submarine missions. PCI and UCL:were completed before the m issions, and questionnaires and saliva were collected weekly. The results s howed no significant relations between PCI profiles and coping strategies. Interpersonal orientation, achievement motivation, and habitual coping stra tegies were predictors for coping during the submarine missions. Problem-di rected strategies and interpersonal sensitivity combined with strong achiev ement motivation were related to low indicated stress from social factors ( lack of privacy, interpersonal tension, and crowding) and homesickness. The findings suggest that interpersonal characteristics need to be considered in the selection of submariners and personnel for other military settings i n which units are exposed to prolonged stress and isolation.