Skip to main content

Effects of Personality on Subjective QOL

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Psychology of Quality of Life

Part of the book series: Social Indicators Research Series ((SINS,volume 50))

Abstract

This chapter describes the effects of personality factors on subjective well-being. Lucas and Diener (2009), in their article on personality and subjective well-being, made reference to a seminal article written by Warner Wilson (1967) who compiled the first scientific literature review of studies related to subjective well-being (Wilson called subjective well-being “a vowed happiness”). In that seminal article, he concluded that happy people are extraverted, optimistic, worry free, have high self-esteem, and modest aspirations. Lucas and Diener asserted that much of the research relating personality with subjective well-being conducted after 1967 have reinforced Wilson’s original observations. But the research says more, much more. Let us now look at the evidence closely.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Augusto-Landa, J. M., Pulido-Martos, M., & Lopez-Zafra, E. (2011). Does perceived emotional intelligence and optimism/pessimism predict psychological well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 12, 463–464.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 822–848.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costa, P. T., Jr., & McCrae, R. R. (1980). Influence of extraversion and neuroticism on subjective well-being: Happy and unhappy people. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 38, 668–678.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costa, P. T., Jr., McCrae, R. R., & Norris, A. H. (1981). Personal adjustment to aging: Longitudinal prediction from neuroticism and extraversion. Journal of Gerontology, 36, 78–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, R. A. (2000). Personal income and subjective well-being: A review. Journal of Happiness Studies, 1(2), 133–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeNeve, K. M., & Cooper, H. (1998). The happy personality: A meta-analysis of 137 personality traits and subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 124, 197–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 75, 542–575.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E. (2009). Subjective well-being. In E. Diener (Ed.), The science of well-being: The collected works of Ed Diener (pp. 11–58). Dordrecht, the Netherlands: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Oishi, S., Lucas, R. E., & Suh, E. M. (2000). Looking up and looking down: Weighting of good versus bad information in life satisfaction judgments. Unpublished manuscript, University of Illinois at Champaign, Champaign, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Sandvik, E., Pavot, W., & Fujita, F. (1992). Extraversion and subjective well being in a U.S. national probability sample. Journal of Research in Personality, 26, 205–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Smith, H., & Fujita, F. (1995). The personality structure of affect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69, 130–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Suh, E., Lucas, R., & Smith, H. (1999). Subjective well-being: Three decades of research. Psychological Bulletin, 125, 276–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dolan, P., Peasgood, T., & White, M. P. (2008). Do we really know what makes us happy? A review of the economic literature on factors associated with subjective well-being. Journal of Economic Psychology, 29, 94–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunning, D., Leuenberger, A., & Sherman, D. A. (1995). A new look at motivated inference: Are self-serving theories of success a product of motivational forces? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69, 58–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia, D., & Erlandsson, A. (2011). The relationship between personality and subjective well-being: Different association patterns when measuring the affective component in frequency and intensity. Journal of Happiness Studies, 12, 1023–1034.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gere, J., & Schimmack, U. (2011). A multi-occasion multi-rater model of affective dispositions and affective well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 12, 931–945.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghaedi, G. H., Tavoli, A., Bakhtiari, M., Melyani, M., & Sahragard, M. (2010). Quality of life in college students with and without social phobia. Social Indicators Research, 97, 247–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray, J. A. (1991). Neural systems, emotions, and personality. In J. Madden (Ed.), Neurobiology of learning, emotion, and affect (pp. 273–306). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Headey, B. W. (2008a). Life goals matter to happiness: A revision of set-point theory. Social Indicators Research, 86, 213–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Headey, B. W. (2008b). The set-point theory of well-being: Negative results and consequent revisions. Social Indicators Research, 85, 389–403.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Headey, B. W. (2010). The set-point theory of well-being has serious flaws: On the eve of a scientific revolution? Social Indicators Research, 97, 7–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Headey, B. W., Holmstrom, E. L., & Wearing, A. J. (1984a). The impact of life events and changes in domain satisfactions on well-being. Social Indicators Research, 15, 203–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Headey, B. W., Holmstrom, E. L., & Wearing, A. J. (1984b). Well-being and ill-being: different dimensions? Social Indicators Research, 14, 115–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Headey, B., & Wearing, A. (1986). The sense of relative superiority central to well-being. Melbourne, Australia: University of Melbourne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Headey, B., & Wearing, A. (1987). A theory of life satisfaction and psychological distress. Melbourne, Australia: University of Melbourne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Headey, B., & Wearing, A. (1989). Personality, life events, and subjective well-being: Toward a dynamic equilibrium model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 731–739.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Headey, B., & Wearing, A. (1991). Subjective well-being: A stocks and flows framework. In F. Strack, M. Argyle, & N. Schwarz (Eds.), Subjective well-being (pp. 49–73). Oxford, UK: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holder, M. D., & Klassen, A. (2010). Temperament and happiness in children. Journal of Happiness Studies, 11, 419–439.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howell, A. J., & Buro, K. (2011). Relations among mindfulness, achievement-related self-regulation, and achievement emotions. Journal of Happiness Studies, 12, 1007–1022.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, W., McGue, M., & Krueger, R. F. (2005). Personality stability in late adulthood: A behavioral genetic analysis. Journal of Personality, 73, 523–551.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joshanloo, M., & Afshari, S. (2011). Big five personality traits and self-esteem as predictors of life satisfaction in Iranian muslim university students. Journal of Happiness Studies, 12, 105–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Judge, T. A., & Hulin, C. L. (1993). Job satisfaction as a reflection of disposition: A multiple source causal analysis. Organisational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes, 56, 388–421.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Judge, T. A., & Locke, E. A. (1993). Effect of dysfunctional thought processes on subjective well-being and job satisfaction. Journal of Applied Psychology, 78, 475–490.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Judge, T. A., & Watanabe, S. (1993). Another look at the job satisfaction-life satisfaction relationship. Journal of Applied Psychology, 78, 939–948.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kette, G. (1991). Haft: Eine socialpsychologgische analyse [Prison: A social psychological analysis]. Gottingen: Hogrefe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozma, A., Stone, S., & Stones, M. J. (2000). Stability in components and predictors of subjective well-being (SWB): Implications for SWB structure. In E. Diener & D. R. Rahtz (Eds.), Advances in quality of life: Theory and research (pp. 13–30). Dordrecht, the Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Larsen, R. J., & Eid, M. (2008). Ed Diener and the science of subjective well-being. In M. Eid & R. J. Larsen (Eds.), The science of subjective well-being (pp. 1–13). New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lench, H. C. (2011). Personality and health outcomes: Making positive expectations a reality. Journal of Happiness Studies, 12, 493–507.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucas, R. E., & Diener, E. (2009). Personality and subjective well-being. In E. Diener (Ed.), The science of well-being: The collected works of Ed Diener (pp. 75–102). Dordrecht, the Netherlands: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lykken, D., & Tellegen, A. (1996). Happiness is a stochastic phenomenon. Psychological Science, 7, 186–189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lyubomirsky, S., Tkach, C., & Dimatteo, M. R. (2006). What are the differences between happiness and self-esteem? Social Indicators Research, 78, 363–404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matlin, M. W., & Gawron, V. J. (1979). Individual differences in pollyannaism. Journal of Personality Assessment, 43, 411–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCann, S. J. H. (2011). Emotional health and the big five personality factors at the American state level. Journal of Happiness Studies, 12, 547–560.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCrae, R. R., & Costa, P. T., Jr. (1991). Adding Liebe and Arbeit: The full five-factor model and well-being. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 17, 227–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nes, R. B. (2010). Happiness in behavior genetics: Findings and implications. Journal of Happiness Studies, 11, 369–381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nes, R. B., Roysamb, E., Tambs, K., Harris, J. R., & Reichborn-Kjennerud, T. (2006). Subjective well-being: Genetic and environmental contributions to stability and change. Psychological Medicine, 36(7), 1033–1042.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2006). Character strengths and happiness among young children: Content analysis of parental descriptions. Journal of Happiness Studies, 7, 323–341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, C., Ruch, W., Beerman, U., Park, N., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2007). Strengths of character, orientation to happiness, and life satisfaction. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2, 149–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A classification and handbook. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roysamb, E., Harris, J. R., Magnus, P., Vitterso, J., & Tambs, K. (2002). Subjective well-being: Sex-specific effects of genetic and environmental factors. Personality and Individual Differences, 32, 211–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roysamb, E., Tambs, K., Reichborn-Kjennerud, T., Neale, M. C., & Harris, J. R. (2003). Happiness and health: Environmental and genetic contributions to the relationship between subjective well-being, perceived health, and somatic illness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85, 1136–1146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rusting, C. L., & Larsen, R. J. (1997). Extraversion, neuroticism, and susceptibility to positive and negative affect: A test of two theoretical models. Personality and Individual Differences, 22, 607–612.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scheier, M. F., & Carver, C. S. (1985). Optimism, coping, and health: Assessment and implications of generalized outcome expectancies. Health Psychology, 4, 219–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schyns, P. (2000). The relationship between income, changes in income and life satisfaction in West Germany and the Russian Federation: Relative, absolute, or a combination of both? In E. Diener & D. R. Rahtz (Eds.), Advances in quality of life theory and research (pp. 203–207). Dordrecht, the Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, A., & Keyes, C. L. (2008). Marital status and social well-being: Are the married always better off? Social Indicators Research, 88, 329–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spreitzer, E., & Snyder, E. (1974). Correlates of life satisfaction among the elderly. Journal of Gerontology, 29, 454–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steel, P., Schnnidt, J., & Shultz, J. (2008). Refining the relationship between personality and subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 134, 138–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stones, M. J., & Kozma, A. (1991). A magical model of happiness. Social Indicators Research, 25, 31–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stubbe, J. H., Posthuma, D., Boomsma, D. L., & De Geus, E. J. C. (2005). Heritability of life satisfaction in adults: A twin-family study. Psychological Medicine, 35, 1581–1588.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sweeney, P. D., Schaeffer, D. E., & Golin, S. (1982). Pleasant events, unpleasant events, and depression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 43, 136–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tellegen, A., Lykken, D. T., Bouchard, T. J., Wilcox, K. J., Segal, N. L., & Rich, S. (1988). Personality similarity in twins and reared apart and together. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 1031–1039.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tkach, C., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2006). How do people pursue happiness? Relating personality, happiness-increasing strategies, and well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 7, 183–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Veenhoven, R. (1995). The cross-national pattern of happiness: Test of predictions implied in three theories of happiness. Social Indicators Research, 34, 33–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vitterso, J. (2001). Personality traits and subjective well-being: Emotional stability, not extraversion, is probably the important predictor. Personality and Individual Differences, 31, 903–914.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, D., & Clark, L. A. (1984). Negative affectivity: The disposition to experience aversive emotional states. Psychological Bulletin, 96, 465–490.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, W. (1967). Correlates of avowed happiness. Psychological Bulletin, 67, 294–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Windle, G., Woods, R. T., & Markland, D. A. (2010). Living with ill-health in older age: The role of a resilient personality. Journal of Happiness Studies, 11, 763–777.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Sirgy, M.J. (2012). Effects of Personality on Subjective QOL. In: The Psychology of Quality of Life. Social Indicators Research Series, vol 50. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4405-9_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics