The topic that we learned this week is “Personality and subjective well-being: big five correlates and demographic variables”. The aim of this study was to examine the association between the Big Five personality dimensions, the most relevant demographic factors (sex, age and relationship status), and subjective well-being.

From the study we know that personality is 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) were found to be differentially associated with the different elements of subjective well-being, and the explanation for these associations was highly likely to be found in the links between demographic variables and personality. The sample was made up of 236 nursing professionals working in eight different departments at seven hospitals in Madrid (Spain). To assess the Big Five personality dimensions and Subjective well-being respectively they used the NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and the Affect-Balance Scale (ABS). Correlations between personality (raw scores on NEO-FFI dimensions) and subjective well-being were calculated. Two multiple-regression analyses (MRA) were conducted to allow an examination of the variance in subjective well-being and at the same time to exercise mutual control between the two blocks of variables.

   As a result, just as control of the effect of demographic variables was necessary for isolating the effect of personality on subjective well-being, control of personality would allow more accurate analysis of the role of demographic variables in relation to the subjective well-being construct.

                                                                               (LiuYanan)