Personality Correlates of Self-Appraised Problem Solving Ability: Problem Orientation and Trait Affectivity

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
We examined the relations between the components of problem solving appraisal and trait affectivity in three separate studies. According to the social problem solving model, a positive problem orientation wards off negative affect and promotes positive affect to facilitate effective problem solving (D'Zurilla & Nezu, 1989). It was then reasoned that two factors on the Problem Solving Inventory (PSI; Heppner, 1988)—Problem Solving Confidence and Personal Control over emotions when problem solving—constitute facets of the problem orientation component. Therefore, these factors should be consistently associated with trait affectivity. Multiple regression was used to determine the association between the two problem orientation factors and measures of trait positive and negative affectivity from the Eysenck Personality Inventory (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1968; Study 1, N = 99), the NEO-Personality Inventory (Costa & McCrae, 1985; Study 2, N = 194), and the Positive and Negative Affective Schedule (Watson, Clark, & ...