Coping Skills among Malaysian Armed Forces Paratrooper Trainees. NORMAH CHE DIN, SHAHIDAH LEONG ABDULLAH & FAUZIAH SHAARI. Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia 1 Julai/July 2003

Abstract
This study was carried out to investigate coping process in relation to specific distressful episodes experienced by 120 paratrooper trainees. Scores of direct coping and emotional coping that were derived from the “Ways of Coping” questionnaire were analyzed to examine the role of appraisal, level of anxiety, depression and level of stress as predictors of coping. Extrovert personality did not influence direct or emotional coping at all three phases (Training, Outdoor, and Jumping phases). Neurotic personality influenced direct coping in phase II and emotional coping in phase III. Anxiety effects emotional and direct coping in phase II and III. Depression significantly influenced and direct coping in phase II and III. Depression significantly influenced emotional and direct coping in phase I I only. Stress has significant contribution towards emotional and direct coping for all three phases. Appraisal significantly affects direct coping at all phases but only phase I and II for emotional coping.

Key words: Stress, coping, specific stressful episodes, paratrooper trainees, personality traits.