Openness to Experience Moderates the Association Between Problem-Solving Style and Negative Affect

Everyday problem-solving situations can be approached on an independent or interdependent basis. The current article investigated the moderating effects of openness to experience and self-efficacy on the relation between an independent versus interdependent problem-solving style and negative affect (stress, anxiety, depression, and neuroticism). Australian university students ( Ns = 399, 186, 337, and 248) and international academic researchers ( N = 199) took part in research studies examining the relations between personality, problem-solving-style, and mental health. Openness to experience moderated the association between problem-solving style and negative affect in all five studies. When openness was low, independent problem-solvers reported greater negative emotionality compared to interdependent problem-solvers. Further, the moderating effect of openness to experience on trait-based negative affectivity (i.e., neuroticism) was mediated by state-based negative emotional experiences of anxiety and stress. The moderating effect of self-efficacy appraisals was only statistically significant on specific anxiety about solving problems. Openness to experience seems to help alleviate the negative mental consequences of independent problem-solvers. These findings have implications for clinical practice with regard to building a therapeutic relationship and retaining clients.

KEPRIBADIAN, GAYA BERPIKIR, GAYA PEMECAHAN MASALAH, DAN GAYA PENGAMBILAN KEPUTUSAN

This research was conducted to investigate the contributions between personality, thinking style, problem solving style, and decision making style. 301 productive age people (25-44 years old) participated in this study. The researchers used the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) short version, the Gregorc Delineator Style (GDS), VIEW: Assessment of Problem Solving Style, and General Decision Making Style (GDMS). The analysis was performed using the multinomial regression analysis method. The results showed that thinking style is influenced by personality in which several aspects of personality affect several types of thinking styles. Problem solving styles are influenced by thinking styles where several types of thinking styles affect several types of problem solving styles. Decision making style is influenced by thinking style where several types of thinking style affect several types of decision making style. And there is no influence of the problem solving style on the overall decision making style, but several types of problem solving styles affect several types of decision making styles.