Preference for Routine in University Students: The Roles of Habits, Novelty-Seeking, and Personality Traits

Abstract

This study examined psychological predictors of preference for routine among university students. The focus was on habitual behaviour, novelty-seeking temperament, and the Big Five personality traits. Seventy-three students completed an online survey including the Creature of Habit Scale (COHS), the Self-Report Habit Index (SRHI), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), the International Personality Item Pool Big Five Markers (IPIP-BFM), and the IPIP Variety-Seeking Scale (IPIP-VS). Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and multiple regression were used to analyse the data. The results showed that stronger routine preference was associated with lower negative affect but was not linked to higher positive affect. Novelty-seeking temperament displayed a strong negative correlation with routine preference, supporting the idea that individuals who seek new experiences are less likely to value structured repetition. In the regression model, emotional stability emerged as the only significant predictor of routine preference. Conscientiousness, openness, and other Big Five traits were not significant when all predictors were considered together. These findings suggest that emotional regulation and temperament play a more central role in routine preference than orderliness or openness. The study contributes to understanding individual differences in daily behavioural style and highlights the importance of tailoring well-being interventions to personality profiles. For students with high novelty-seeking or low emotional stability, flexible rather than rigid routines may be most effective in supporting mental health.