Published Paper Details:

The present study examines the relationship between personality traits, perceived stress, and conflict management styles among young adults in the early stages of their professional careers. The transition into professional life introduces significant psychological and interpersonal challenges; however, limited research has explored the combined influence of these variables within early career populations. A quantitative, cross-sectional correlational research design was employed, involving a sample of 100 young adults aged 18-26 years. Data were collected using standardized instruments, including the Big Five Inventory (BFI-10), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI). The findings revealed that neuroticism was positively and significantly associated with perceived stress (r = .331, p < .01), indicating that individuals with higher emotional instability reported greater stress levels. Openness to experience (r = .262, p < .01) and agreeableness (r = .236, p < .05) were also positively related to perceived stress, whereas extraversion and conscientiousness showed no significant associations. In terms of conflict management, conscientiousness demonstrated a significant positive relationship with the compromising style (r = .207, p < .05). However, perceived stress was not significantly related to any of the conflict management styles. Overall, the findings suggest that personality traits--particularly neuroticism--play a stronger role in shaping perceived stress than in influencing conflict management behaviour among early career professionals. The study highlights the importance of personality awareness, stress management interventions, and conflict resolution training in supporting employee well-being and workplace adjustment.