The Domains of Triguna Personalities and How They Influence the Coping Mechanisms and Well-being of Military Families

The present study examines the dominant Triguna personality traits—Sattva (stability), Rajas (activation), and Tamas (inertia)—and their relationships with coping strategies and psychological well-being among military families. Participants included children aged 18 to 28 and wives aged 30 to 60, primarily from Indian Army families (99%), with additional representation from the Air Force and Navy. Findings revealed Sattva as the dominant trait across both groups, while Rajas and Tamas were present to a lesser extent. Statistical analysis highlighted significant relationships between Triguna traits and coping mechanisms, with Sattva positively correlating with adaptive coping styles such as problem solving (r = .218) and Tamas negatively correlating with coping (r = –.250). Similarly, significant relationships emerged between Triguna traits and psychological well-being. In children, Sattva correlated positively with environmental mastery (r = .372) and self-acceptance (r = .398), while Tamas was negatively correlated with these domains. Coping mechanisms also showed significant associations with psychological well-being, with emotion-focused and avoidance coping styles negatively correlated with autonomy, environmental mastery, and self-acceptance. These findings underscore the relevance of Triguna traits in shaping coping processes and psychological well-being within the unique context of military families, offering valuable implications for targeted interventions aimed at fostering resilience and mental health in these populations.