The Influence of the Primary and Secondary Appraisals, and of the Big Five Personality Traits, on the Choice of Coping Strategies: A Study Based on Daily Stress

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the choice of coping strategies in relation to daily stress, taking into account the influence of the primary and secondary appraisals and the Big Five traits of personality. Over 10 days, a cohort of 122 individuals filled out an online diary in which they recorded the most important stressful event each day, their primary and secondary appraisal of this, and how they chose to cope with it. The results indicate that problem-focused coping depends on a strong primary and secondary appraisal, and on extraversion, whereas emotion-focused coping depends on a strong secondary appraisal and on extraversion. Social support seeking depends on strong primary and secondary appraisal, and on extraversion, openness and neuroticism. Refusal to seek support is associated with a strong primary appraisal, a weak secondary appraisal and a low level of conscientiousness. The conclusions are that momentary appraisals have a stronger predictive capacity than the personality traits, and that different coping strategies are not mutually incompatible.

Keywords

• daily stress
• coping
• primary appraisal
• secondary primary appraisal
• personality