Coping strategies has been linked with outcomes such as mental health problems,
alcohol addiction, anxiety, sleep disturbances, poor performance among others.
CHowever, not much is known on coping strategies among Internally Displaced
Persons in Benue State. This study examined this phenomenon by investigating Big five
personality traits and coping strategies among IDPs in Benue State. The study adopted the ex-
post facto survey design in which 399 IDPs, comprising 156(39.1%) males and 243(60.9%)
females, whose ages ranged from 18 – 69 (Mean age = 32.03, SD=15.34) served as
participants. The Big Five Personality Inventory and Coping Scale were used in data
collection, while data analysis involved the use of Multiple Linear Regression. Findings
showed that, personality traits had a significant positive influence on coping strategies overall
among the IDPs. Personality traits explained 27.1% of the total variance observed in overall
coping strategies among the respondents. Results also indicated that, personality traits had a
significant positive influence on cognitive coping; while a significant negative influence of
personality traits was found on emotional coping and behavioural coping strategies among the
IDPs. The study concluded that, factors of personality traits such as conscientiousness,
extraversion, agreeableness and openness are positive influencers of coping strategies, while
neuroticism is a significant negative influencer of coping strategies among IDPs in Benue
State. The study recommended that, personality testing should be introduced in IDP camps, to
facilitate adaptive coping among the IDPs

Key words: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism