Roles of personality and gender in healthy relationships among undergraduate students

Abstract

This study examined the influence of gender and personality on healthy relationships among undergraduate students. Two hundred and forty sixty (246) students of University of Nigeria Nsukka participated in the study. Personality trait was measured with the Big Five Personality Inventory while the healthy relationship scale was measured with the Adaptive Relationship Scale (ARS). Multiple regression was used for data analysis. The results of the study indicated that gender did not significantly predict healthy relationships (β =.042, t = .77, p>.05). Of all the personality factors (extraversion, agreeableness, openness to experience, conscientiousness, and neuroticism), only neuroticism was a negatively significant predictor of a healthy relationship (β = -.596, t = -10.90; p< .001). Hence, the more the neurotic trait, the lower the adaptive relationship. The discussion highlighted the need to consider personality issues when entering a relationship and the need to educate students on how to maintain a healthy relationship to avoid obnoxious behaviour that may jeopardize their life as students.