Predicting psychological and subjective well-being from personality: A meta-analysis.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Meta-analysis of cross-sectional and observational correlational studies
PubMed 31944795 · doi:10.1037/bul0000226
What was done
A meta-analysis (k = 462, n = 334,567) evaluating correlations of Big Five and HEXACO personality domains and facets with self-reported subjective well-being (SWB: life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect) and psychological well-being (PWB: positive relations, autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, self-acceptance, personal growth). Facet-level correlations and incremental prediction over broad domains were also synthesized using four datasets: NEO PI-R (n = 1,673), IPIP-NEO (n = 903), HEXACO PI-R (n = 465), and Big Five Aspect Scales (n = 706).
What was found
Big Five neuroticism, extraversion, and conscientiousness were highlighted as important correlates of well-being, with consistent patterns across different Big Five instruments (e.g., BFI, NEO, IPIP, BFAS, Adjectives). In the HEXACO model, extraversion was the strongest correlate of well-being. Lower-order facets typically predicted well-being dimensions around 20% better than broad domains alone. Specific meta-analytic correlation values (r) were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
This synthesis provides a comprehensive map of how structural personality traits relate to multidimensional well-being and demonstrates that analyzing lower-order facets substantially improves prediction beyond broad traits.
Limits
The included literature relies on cross-sectional, self-reported observational measures, precluding causal inference. Specific effect sizes, confidence intervals, and demographic characteristics of the pooled sample were omitted from the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Day-to-day positive affect and happiness is correlated with extraversion at approximately r = 0.5, while satisfaction with life correlates at approximately r = 0.3.