THE FIVE FACTORS OF PERSONALITY AND INTERPERSONAL ...

competent individuals reported less depression and loneliness These inhial results
suggest that negative affectivhy is inversely related to social competence
In the second study, Buhrmester et al. (1988) examined self and roommate
perceptions of interpersonal competence The degree to which competence is associated
whh personality characteristics and social adjustment was also examined Subjects
(n = 138) completed the ICQ as well as measures of loneliness, sex role orientation, and
social self-esteem. Roommates also rated the subjects on social self-esteem, sex role
orientation, and competence. The resuhs indicated that roommate ratings of interpersonal
competence were negatively related to self-reported ratings of loneliness Competence
was also associated with both roommate and self-rated percepfions of social self-esteem
Competence in emotional support and disclosure was associated whh expressiveness as
well Instrumentalness was poshively associated with competence in inhiation and
assertiveness Both sex role orientations were poshively related to conflict management
competence. According to Buhrmester et al. (1988), this could explain why prior
research has found that both masculinhy and femininity are conducive to social
competence.
In the thh-d study, Buhrmester et al (1988) investigated perceptions of
interpersonal competence in established friendships and whh new acquaintances.
Subjects (n = 151) were assigned to an unacquainted same sex partner and instructed to
interact to become better acquainted. Both partners then rated themselves and their
partners on the ICQ They also rated their satisfaction whh the interaction and their
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