Background Numerous studies have found that both personality and the coping strategies used in response to stress play important roles in the development of mental health problems, particularly adjustment disorder (AD), which is characterised by the onset of different emotional symptoms or behaviour in response to an identifiable stressor. Methods The aim of this study was to analyse the differences between 80 outpatients (68% female, average age 36) diagnosed with AD at a mental health unit and 80 controls (48% female, average age 39; people subjected to similar stress but with no psychopathology) with regard to personality, coping, and certain socio‐demographic variables. Results Patients presented less extraversion and a considerably greater neuroticism than the control group. They employed disengagement strategies to a greater extent and humour strategies less frequently than the control group. Conclusions The results contribute to clarify a controversial diagnostic category that has been the subject of very little research. They also provide guidelines for intervention.