21st Annual Student Research Conference
Perceived Stress and Emotional Stability among Working Adults
Shannon M. Albright*, Margaret Terranova, Christopher Honts, Joseph Goedde, and Jennifer LaChapell
Dr. Teresa Heckert, Faculty Mentor
The purpose of this study was to investigate, among working adults, the relationship between stress and personality. Prior research (n = 137) found a very strong and significant relationship between perceived stress and emotional stability (r = -0.70). Since participants in the prior study were Truman students, this new study surveyed non-student adults (n = 133) from a variety of occupations. The participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, Kamarck, & Mermelstein, 1983) and the International Personality Item Pool scales (www.ipip.ori.org) for the Big-Five personality traits (i.e., emotional stability, extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and intellect). Although the relationship of stress to emotional stability remained strong and significant (r = -0.57), it was less strong than the relation in the student sample. Similarities and differences between the adult working sample and the student sample will be discussed.
Keywords: Stress, Big Five Personality Factors, Working Adults, Emotional Stability
Topic(s):Psychology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 26-2
Location: VH 1232
Time: 10:00