Personality styles, coping strategies and intelligence as predictors of military cadets’ academic careers

Abstract

Data are presented on 137 students from an Argentine Military Academy assessed during military and academic training. The aim of the study was to identify whether the success or failure of cadets receiving military and academic training during a four-year period can be predicted on the basis of personality (personality styles and coping strategies) and cognitive variables (intelligence). The following assessment techniques were administered: the Millon Inventory of Personality Styles (MIPS), the Adolescent Coping Scale (ACS) and Raven Progressive Matrixes. Competence for abstract reasoning, a dominant and in dependent personality style and coping strategies focused on problem-solving were good predictors of successful academic careers. Low, medium and high achievers could be classified on the basis of personality styles. Medium and high achievers could be distinguished from low achievers on the basis of intelligence and coping strategies focused on problem solving.