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The Happy Personality: A Meta-Analysis of 137 Personality Traits and Subjective Well-Being

Publication ,  Journal Article
DeNeve, KM; Cooper, H
Published in: Psychological Bulletin
January 1, 1998

This meta-analysis used 9 literature search strategies to examine 137 distinct personality constructs as correlates of subjective well-being (SWB). Personality was found to be equally predictive of life satisfaction, happiness, and positive affect, but significantly less predictive of negative affect. The traits most closely associated with SWB were repressive-defensiveness, trust, emotional stability, locus of control-chance, desire for control, hardiness, positive affectivity, private collective self-esteem, and tension. When personality traits were grouped according to the Big Five factors, Neuroticism was the strongest predictor of life satisfaction, happiness, and negative affect. Positive affect was predicted equally well by Extraversion and Agreeableness. The relative importance of personality for predicting SWB, how personality might influence SWB, and limitations of the present review are discussed.

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Published In

Psychological Bulletin

DOI

ISSN

0033-2909

Publication Date

January 1, 1998

Volume

124

Issue

2

Start / End Page

197 / 229

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Social Psychology
  • Personality Assessment
  • Personality
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Happiness
  • Female
  • Aged, 80 and over
 

Citation

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DeNeve, K. M., & Cooper, H. (1998). The Happy Personality: A Meta-Analysis of 137 Personality Traits and Subjective Well-Being. Psychological Bulletin, 124(2), 197–229. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.124.2.197
DeNeve, K. M., and H. Cooper. “The Happy Personality: A Meta-Analysis of 137 Personality Traits and Subjective Well-Being.” Psychological Bulletin 124, no. 2 (January 1, 1998): 197–229. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.124.2.197.
DeNeve KM, Cooper H. The Happy Personality: A Meta-Analysis of 137 Personality Traits and Subjective Well-Being. Psychological Bulletin. 1998 Jan 1;124(2):197–229.
DeNeve, K. M., and H. Cooper. “The Happy Personality: A Meta-Analysis of 137 Personality Traits and Subjective Well-Being.” Psychological Bulletin, vol. 124, no. 2, Jan. 1998, pp. 197–229. Scopus, doi:10.1037/0033-2909.124.2.197.
DeNeve KM, Cooper H. The Happy Personality: A Meta-Analysis of 137 Personality Traits and Subjective Well-Being. Psychological Bulletin. 1998 Jan 1;124(2):197–229.

Published In

Psychological Bulletin

DOI

ISSN

0033-2909

Publication Date

January 1, 1998

Volume

124

Issue

2

Start / End Page

197 / 229

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Social Psychology
  • Personality Assessment
  • Personality
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Happiness
  • Female
  • Aged, 80 and over