Exploring the relationship between the big five personality traits and self-efficacy among Vietnamese undergraduates

Abstract

Research on personality in Vietnam has expanded in recent years alongside the growing interest in mental health and student well-being. In the context of Vietnam’s rapidly developing higher education system, where undergraduates in urban centers such as Ho Chi Minh City face intense academic pressure, career uncertainty, and the interplay between collectivist cultural values and individual achievement, self-efficacy serves as a vital internal resource that supports motivation, persistence, and overall well-being. This study aimed to explore how personality traits affect self-efficacy among Vietnamese undergraduates. Personality-based interventions programs to strengthen students’ self-efficacy could be proposed accordingly. The Big Five Personality Test (IPIP-50) and the New General Self-Efficacy Scale were employed to collect the data from 417 university students (196 males, 221 females; Mean age = 20.1). Data analysis results indicated that (a) Self-efficacy was positively correlated with Openness (r = 0.407), Conscientiousness (r = 0.456), and Extraversion (r = 0.389), while negatively correlated with Agreeableness (r = -0.408) and Neuroticism (r = -0.269); (b) Conscientiousness (p < 0.001) and Neuroticism (p = 0.001) were significant predictors of Self-efficacy; and (c) gender differences were found only in Extraversion (p = 0.01). These findings suggest that personality-informed interventions could effectively enhance students’ self-efficacy in Vietnamese higher education settings. Pedagogical implications and directions for future research are also discussed.