Personality Traits as Moderating Variables for Cross-Cultural Adjustment and Psychological Well-Being

Personality traits are a significant predictor of cross-cultural adjustment. However, researchers have yet to establish this relationship among religious missionaries. This study used a cross-sectional design to explore whether personality traits are part of the repertoire of abilities religious missionaries need to enhance psychological well-being when adjusting to a new cultural context. A sample of 221 religious missionaries completed a standardized study in the Cubao Diocese in the Philippines. The study used a bootstrap corrected and accelerated regression to determine the moderating effect of personality traits on cross-cultural adjustment and psychological well-being. As predicted, the personality traits (HEXACO) have positive and negative moderation effects. Results showed the positive moderation effect of emotionality and the negative moderation effects of honesty-humility, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience between cross-cultural adjustment and psychological well-being at a 5% significance level.