Personality and adjustment among Mormon missionaries

Date

1995-05

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Texas Tech University

Abstract

This is a study of the relationship between personality traits and adjustment to a highly regimented social environment. Specifically, this is a study of the relationship between the personality traits of missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) and their adjustment to Mormon missionary service. Although most Mormon missionaries adapt successfully to mission service, a minority of missionaries report that missionary life is a deeply traumatic experience, and report disappointment and resentment regarding mission policies, loss of self-esteem, and depression. This study is an attempt to understand the relationship between personality and adjustment to the regimen of missionary life. Specifically, this study will address the following questions: (1) what is the relationship between missionary adjustment and global personality domains?; and (2) are the findings of a previous study of Mormon missionary adjustment (Adams & Clopton, 1990) replicated in this study, which uses a larger and more homogeneous sample, and is broader in scope?

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