Are individual differences linked to perceived stress? Does positive cognitive reappraisal, anxiety sensitivity, or...

Life is full of stressful events that can impair cognitive function and emotional health. Individual differences in perceived stress shape psychological and biological responses. However, individual differences in the associations among anxiety sensitivity (AS), positive cognitive reappraisal (PCR), and perceived stress have not been fully studied. This study was designed to investigate whether positive cognitive reappraisal and anxiety sensitivity mediate the link between the Big Five-Factor Model (FFM) and perceived stress.

This research evaluated the direct and indirect associations between personality and perceived stress by investigating potential mediating and moderating variables in a large sample who had recently experienced an acute stressful situation (n = 700). Participants completed both self-report questionnaires and clinician-administered interviews.

In the full sample, higher neuroticism was associated with greater perceived stress (β = 0.31, p < .001, f² = 0.11), whereas openness (β = -0.17, p = .029, f² = 0.03) and reappraisal (β = -0.15, p = .001, f² = 0.02) showed small protective effects. Extraversion was protective only in males (β = -0.34, p = .001, f² = 0.13), with a significant sex interaction. Anxiety sensitivity mediated the openness and perceived stress (β_indirect = -0.08, p = .006), accounting for most of openness's total effect, particularly among females. The model explained most variance in perceived stress (R² = 0.42).

The large effect of neuroticism and the substantial proportion of the openness - stress association mediated by anxiety sensitivity and reappraisals, especially in females, highlight these constructs as key intervention targets. Sex-specific effects, such as the stronger protective role of extraversion in males, suggest that stress management and prevention programs may benefit from being tailored to both personality profiles and sex.