Presenting a Model to Explain the Relationship between Personality Dimensions and Life Satisfaction with Emphasis on the Mediating Role of Coping Styles and a Source of Control among Iranian and Armenian Students

This study aimed to explain the relationship between personality model and life satisfaction with the mediating role of coping styles and sources of control among Iranian and Armenian students.

The present study population included all Iranian and Armenian students who were studying in Iranian and Armenian universities in the 2009-2010 academic years. For sampling, 768 Iranian and 768 foreign students were selected using a random sampling method. Data were obtained using the NEO (1985) five-factor personality questionnaire, Carver's stress coping (1989), Rutter's control source (1996), and the life satisfaction of Diner et al. (1985). Correlation and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the data.

The results showed that all direct paths in the model except the effect of the agreement on the source of control were significant. Also, all indirect paths except the path of the effect of the agreement on life satisfaction through the source of control and the path of the effect of conscientiousness on life satisfaction were significant with the mediating role of the negative emotion-oriented style. Finally, there was a significant relationship between personality traits and control source, coping styles, and satisfaction in Iranian and Armenian students (P <0.05) and the assumed model had a good fit.

As a result, people should use the source of internal control, conscientiousness, flexible personality, and problem-oriented coping style to increase life satisfaction.