Empirical examination of the individual-level personality-based theory of self-management failure

The individual-level personality-based theory of self-management failure posits that personality predisposes individuals to self-defeating behavior that, in turn, leads to self-management failure (Renn, Allen, Fedor, & Davis, 2005). To provide a partial test of the theory, a model is hypothesized that operationalized personality with neuroticism and conscientiousness of the Big Five personality dimensions; self-defeating behavior with inability to delay gratification, procrastination, and emotional self-absorption; and self-management with personal goal setting, monitoring, and operating. The model was tested using data collected from 286 working employees and structural equations analysis. Results supported nine of I I theory-derived hypotheses. As hypothesized, high neuroticism was associated with improper personal goal setting, monitoring, and operating; and emotional self-absorption and procrastination accounted for the relationship between high neuroticism and ineffective self-management. In addition, low conscientiousness was associated with inferior self-management practices, and inability to delay gratification and procrastination partially explained the relationship between low conscientiousness and poor self-management. The findings provide new insight into how high neuroticism and low conscientiousness may contribute to self-management failure. Theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.