Personality Correlates of Role Stress

Abstract

The relationship between role stress, i.e., role ambiguity and role conflict, and personality as measured by Gough and Heilbrun's (1965) Adjective Check List was examined on the basis of data drawn from 202 nursing personnel. Experienced role ambiguity correlated .17 with defensiveness, .15 with self-control, .13 with endurance, —.13 with order, —.15 with nurturance, .20 with aggression, and —.17 with deference, while role conflict was significantly related .12 with exhibition. These correlations (all significant statistically but of low magnitude) were interpreted in light of previous findings.