Personality and the Social Environment: Contributions to Psychological Adjustment Among Asian and Euro American Students

Abstract

Introduction: Although personality and sociocultural experiences shape how people adapt to changing life circumstances, these factors’ contributions to psychological adjustment outcomes may differ across ethnic groups. Previous research has shown that personality traits predict psychological distress and wellbeing, and people's comfort with their social environments and interpersonal relationships also can be instrumental in understanding their psychological adjustment. Research on personality and on environmental characteristics have tended to focus on Euro Americans and on people of color, respectively; the extent to which campus climate and ethnic group contact predict psychological adjustment above and beyond personality remains understudied and unclear. Method: Relative influences of Big 5 personality and environmental characteristics at a predominantly White college were tested as predictors of psychological adjustment among Asian (N = 412; 48.5% women, Mage = 19.60) and Euro American (N = 277; 47.7% women, Mage = 19.46) students. Results: Measurement invariance tests showed that only a subset of the NEO Five Factor Inventory was equivalent across groups. Hierarchical multiple regressions showed that personality contributed to depression and anxiety symptoms for both groups, but comfort with campus environment and ethnic social comfort were distinctively important predictors of Asians’ psychological adjustment. Discussion: Implications for research, professional services, and university practices are discussed.