Personality and subjective well-being: big five correlates and demographic variables

• Published in: Personality and individual differences 2005-05, Vol.38 (7), p.1561-1569
• Main Authors: González Gutiérrez, José Luis, Jiménez, Bernardo Moreno, Hernández, Eva Garrosa, Puente, Cecilia Pcn¨acoba
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Big Five; Biological and medical sciences; Correlation; Demographic aspects; Demographic variables; Five factor model; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Personality; Personality traits; Personality. Affectivity; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Subjective well-being; Subjective wellbeing
• ISSN: 0191-8869; 1873-3549
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2004.09.015

This work examines the association between the Big Five personality dimensions, the most relevant demographic factors (sex, age and relationship status), and subjective well-being. A total of 236 nursing professionals completed the NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and the Affect-Balance Scale (ABS). Regression analysis showed personality as one of the most important correlates of subjective well-being, especially through Extraversion and Neuroticism. There was a positive association between Openness to experience and the positive and negative components of affect. Likewise, the most basic demographic variables (sex, age and relationship status) are found to be differentially associated with the different elements of subjective well-being, and the explanation for these associations is highly likely to be found in the links between demographic variables and personality. In the same way as control of the effect of demographic variables is necessary for isolating the effect of personality on subjective well-being, control of personality should permit more accurate analysis of the role of demographic variables in relation to the subjective well-being construct.