Big Five Factor Personality Differences by Academic Major and Gender in a Faith-Based University Sample

Big Five personality research has been criticized for lack of generalizability due to the overuse of undergraduate psychology student samples. We address this criticism by including undergraduate religion students. This study explores student personality traits and gender differences in an underrepresented sample. Results indicated that religion students scored significantly higher in agreeableness than business students, and lower in neuroticism compared to education students. Gender comparisons revealed significant differences in terms of agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness. Findings underscore the importance of tailored school counseling interventions based on the personality traits and gender to achieve an optimal fit between personality, gender, and career choice.