Abstract
Personality is considered a major determinant of adults and adolescents Subjective Well-Being (SWB); mainly due to its relation
to emotional reactivity, emotional intensity, and to the duration of emotional reactions. However, personality as presented
above involves almost only differences in automatic emotional reactions and habits (i.e., temperament). Nevertheless, temperament
together with learning experiences from different life events is responsible for what people make of themselves intentionally
(i.e., character). The present study examines the relation between temperament and character to SWB at two points in time
over a year in an adolescent sample (N = 109). Adolescents reported personality (The Temperament and Character Inventory; TCI) and SWB at the beginning of the school
year (T1). Subjective Well-Being was then again measured at the end of the school year (T2). Temperament (Harm Avoidance and
Novelty Seeking) and character (Self-Directedness) predicted SWB at T1. However, only Self-Directedness predicted SWB at T2
and also small but significant changes in SWB at the end of the school year. The inclusion of character in SWB research is
discussed.
to emotional reactivity, emotional intensity, and to the duration of emotional reactions. However, personality as presented
above involves almost only differences in automatic emotional reactions and habits (i.e., temperament). Nevertheless, temperament
together with learning experiences from different life events is responsible for what people make of themselves intentionally
(i.e., character). The present study examines the relation between temperament and character to SWB at two points in time
over a year in an adolescent sample (N = 109). Adolescents reported personality (The Temperament and Character Inventory; TCI) and SWB at the beginning of the school
year (T1). Subjective Well-Being was then again measured at the end of the school year (T2). Temperament (Harm Avoidance and
Novelty Seeking) and character (Self-Directedness) predicted SWB at T1. However, only Self-Directedness predicted SWB at T2
and also small but significant changes in SWB at the end of the school year. The inclusion of character in SWB research is
discussed.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Research Paper
- Pages 1-16
- DOI 10.1007/s10902-011-9300-8
- Authors
- Danilo Garcia, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Forensic Psychiatry, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Lillhagsparken 3, 422 05 Hisings Backa, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Saleh Moradi, Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Journal Journal of Happiness Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-7780
- Print ISSN 1389-4978