The location of coping strategies within the Alternative Five Factor Model of personality

Abstract This study aimed to determine which personality dimension(s) as measured by the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire best explain a given coping strategy as measured by the COPE-48. Additionally, to clarify the location of these strategies in the broader framework of personality structure. Neuroticism-Anxiety contributed mostly to strategies focused on emotions, acceptance and denial, Activity to proactive and resolute strategies, and Sociability to obtaining emotional support and advice. Moreover, Impulsive Sensation-Seeking contributed to denial and substance use while Aggression-Hostility to focus on and venting of emotions, and inversely to restrain coping. Besides, we replicated the approach-avoidance axis and obtained an independent component grouping Religion and the inverse of Drugs, Humor and Impulsive Sensation-Seeking. Positioning coping strategies within the well-known, broader and multidimensional space of personality structure may help in a better understanding of its organization and a rethinking of its conceptualization including their underlying neurobiological basis, ultimate evolutionary nature and survival functions.