Hulya ERCAN
Cumhuriyet University, TURKEY.
DOI: 10.14689/ejer.2017.70.5

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The factors related with resilience, which is an important element of positive psychology, are still being discussed. The main purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the resilience levels of individuals in emerging adulthood and the big five personality traits.

Research Methods: Using a quantitative approach, the present study has been conducted based on a correlational descriptive model. The study group consists of 392 undergraduate students. The participants were selected through a purposeful sampling method. The participants were asked to fill out personal information forms and the Resilience Scale for Adults and take an Adjective-Based Personality Test. The correlation, t-test and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to establish the relationships between the variables.

Findings: As a result of the analyses, relationships were established between the sub-dimensions of resilience and the sub-dimensions of big five personality traits at various levels that appeared to support the body of literature. On the other hand, it was found that all the sub-dimensions of the big five personality traits presented statistically significant differences based on being resilient or non-resilient. Lastly, it was established that three sub-dimensions of the big five personality traits—namely conscientiousness, neuroticism and extroversion—together accounted for 34% of the total resilience scores of the participants.

Implications for Research and Practice: It can be argued that the findings thus achieved present indicators as to the use of big five personality traits in accounting for psychological resilience. For future studies, it is recommended that longitudinal studies in particular, be included for the purview of the research and that intercultural comparative studies be carried out.

Keywords: Positive psychology, personality, big five model, resilience level.