Personality, Positivity and Happiness: A Mediation Analysis Using a Bifactor Model

Marco Lauriola () and Luca Iani ()
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Marco Lauriola: SAPIENZA University of Rome
Luca Iani: European University of Rome

Journal of Happiness Studies, 2017, vol. 18, issue 6, No 5, 1659-1682

Abstract: Abstract Recent studies suggested an important role of neuroticism and extraversion facets as incremental predictors of subjective well-being outcomes. Research has shown that positive cognitions mediated the relation between personality traits and well-being. The present study examined the relationship between neuroticism and extraversion, measured as general and group factors, and subjective happiness through a general positivity factor. 770 community participants (69.4 % females; M = 55.34; SD = 16.01) completed personality, satisfaction with life, optimism, self-esteem, and subjective happiness scales. A bifactor model was used to parse general and specific variance components for multifaceted constructs. The general positivity factor completely mediated neuroticism-subjective happiness relationships and overlapped with general neuroticism, whilst it partially mediated extraversion-subjective happiness ones. Other paths to happiness involved cheerfulness and enthusiasm. Assertiveness, activity level and excitement-seeking had a weak relationship with subjective happiness and only through positivity. Gregariousness and friendliness had neither direct nor indirect effects on subjective happiness. Life satisfaction had a twofold role as a component of positivity as well as providing an independent contribution to variance in subjective happiness. In keeping with previous research, neuroticism acted as a sort of general negativity factor. Cheerfulness and extraversion made an incremental contribution to variance in subjective happiness. Our findings support the utility of a multifaceted approach to study pathways from personality to well-being. Theoretical and practical implications for promoting well-being were discussed.

Keywords: Positivity; Life satisfaction; Subjective happiness; Mediation; Bifactor model; Personality facets (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1007/s10902-016-9792-3

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