An investigation of whether coping mechanisms mediate the relationship between personality traits and conflict management styles

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between conflict management styles, personality traits, and coping mechanisms. Specifically, I examined whether coping mechanisms were predicted by personality styles as defined by the Big Five personality factors, whether interpersonal conflict management styles were predicted by personality factors and dispositional coping mechanisms, and lastly, whether coping mechanisms mediated the relationship between personality traits and conflict management styles. In a sample of 235 working individuals, results showed that, although conflict management styles were significantly predicted by personality factors and by problem-focused coping, the hypothesized mediating effects of dispositional coping mechanisms in the relationship between conflict management styles and personality dimensions of the Five-Factor Model (FFM) failed to show significance. These results suggest that coping mechanisms may not play a pivotal role in the relationship linking personality traits and conflict management styles.