Relationship between personality characteristics and coping strategies in mothers of autism children

Aim: selection the type of coping strategies have important influence on how to cope with stress. Many factors such as personality involved in this choice. The aim of this study was investigation the relationship between personality traits and the coping strategies in mothers of autism children.
in this study that was correlational, 56 mothers of autism children were selected randomly among the three institutions to support autistic children in Isfahan and completed NEO personality characteristics and coping strategies questionnaires. Data analyzed with Pearson correlation coefficient and step by step regression analysis.
The personality trait of neuroticism had a significant positive correlation with coping strategies escape-avoidance and distancing and negative significant correlation with positive reappraisal. Extraversion and conscientiousness had significant negative relationship with escape-avoidance. The relationship of Extraversion and agreeableness with seeking social support and positive reappraisal was positive and significant. Relationship of conscientiousness with planned problem solving and positive reappraisal was significant too. Regression analysis indicated neuroticism was significant predictor of coping strategies distancing and escape-avoidance. coping strategy of seeking social support was predicted by agreeableness and positive reappraisal was predicted by conscientiousness and neuroticism.
coping strategies selection and personality traits are related and individuals in risk of high stress such as mothers of autism children should be trained to select efficacious coping strategies in proportion to their personality traits.