Personality Traits And Coping Strategies As Predictors Of Resilience In Military Personnel Deployed In Joint Task Force Operations Northwest, Nigeria
Keywords:
Personality Traits, Coping Strategies, Resilience, Military Personnel, Nigeria, Joint Task Force OperationAbstract
Military personnel deployed in high-risk conflict zones face significant psychological challenges that may compromise their resilience and operational effectiveness, yet limited research has examined the mechanisms linking personality characteristics and coping processes to resilience in the Nigerian military context. This study investigated whether personality traits (Neuroticism, Agreeableness, Extraversion, Openness, and Conscientiousness) and coping strategies (problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidance-focused) predict resilience among military personnel deployed in Joint Task Force Operations in Northwest Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was employed with 385 military personnel aged 21–41 years (M = 27.00, SD = 4.05). The Big Five Personality Inventory (BFI-10), the Coping Questionnaire (WCQ-SF), and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10) were used for data collection. Data were analysed using standard multiple regression. Results revealed that personality traits significantly predicted resilience [R² = .984, F(5, 379) = 4811.891, p < .01], with Extraversion (β = .967, p < .001) and Agreeableness (β = .048, p < .05) emerging as significant predictors. Coping strategies also significantly predicted resilience [R² = .964, F(3, 381) = 3419.207, p < .001], with problem-focused (β = .865, p < .001) and emotion-focused (β = .407, p < .001) coping contributing significantly, while avoidance coping did not (β = .023, p = .682). When entered simultaneously, the combined model significantly predicted resilience [R² = .984, F(8, 376) = 2984.607, p < .001]; however, only Extraversion (β = .992, p < .001) made a significant independent contribution. Findings suggest that resilience is differentially shaped by personality traits and coping strategies, with Extraversion emerging as the most robust predictor. Interventions targeting social engagement, active problem-solving, and emotional regulation may help enhance resilience among military personnel deployed in high-stress operational environments.
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