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The Genetic Overlap and Distinctiveness of Flourishing and the Big Five Personality Traits

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  • Corey Keyes
  • Kenneth Kendler
  • John Myers
  • Chris Martin

Abstract

The growing evidence that subjective well-being (SWB) produces an array of beneficial outcomes has increased requests for recommendations on how to promote it. Evidence that all of SWB’s genetic variance overlaps with personality led to the strong claim that it is a ‘personality thing’ and that personality is the strongest predictor of SWB. However, studies do not include a comprehensive assessment that reflects eudaimonic as well as hedonic SWB. We revisit the question of SWB’s complete overlap with personality employing the tripartite model—emotional, psychological, and social—of SWB that, together, reflect Keyes’ ( 2002 ) model of flourishing. Data are from the Midlife in the United States national sample of 1,386 twins. Analyses were done using Mx to test Cholesky decomposition models and a two latent factor common pathway model. One-third of the total (72 %) heritability of flourishing and 40 % of its environmental variability are distinct from the big-five personality traits. We also find a low phenotypic association (mean r = .22) between the three dimensions of SWB and big-five personality traits despite substantial shared genetic etiology. In addition to non-trivial amounts of distinctive genetic and environmental variance and low phenotypic correlation, we point to limited investigation of reciprocal causation of SWB and personality. Psychologist should not yet conclude that SWB is a ‘personality thing’ anymore than personality might be a ‘well-being thing’. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Corey Keyes & Kenneth Kendler & John Myers & Chris Martin, 2015. "The Genetic Overlap and Distinctiveness of Flourishing and the Big Five Personality Traits," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 655-668, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:16:y:2015:i:3:p:655-668
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-014-9527-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Helliwell, John & Layard, Richard & Sachs, Jeffrey, 2012. "World happiness report," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 47487, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Keyes, C.L.M. & Myers, J.M. & Kendler, K.S., 2010. "The structure of the genetic and environmental influences on mental well-being," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(12), pages 2379-2384.
    3. Hirotugu Akaike, 1987. "Factor analysis and AIC," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 52(3), pages 317-332, September.
    4. Keyes, C.L.M. & Simoes, E.J., 2012. "To flourish or not: Positive mental health and all-cause mortality," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(11), pages 2164-2172.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xu, Yilan & Briley, Daniel A. & Brown, Jeffrey R. & Roberts, Brent W., 2017. "Genetic and environmental influences on household financial distress," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 404-424.
    2. Lu Fan & Swarn Chatterjee & Jinhee Kim, 2022. "An Integrated Framework of Young Adults’ Subjective Well-Being: The Roles of Personality Traits, Financial Responsibility, Perceived Financial Capability, and Race," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 43(1), pages 66-85, March.
    3. Leanne L. Davis & Samantha A. Fowler & Lisa A. Best & Lilly E. Both, 2020. "The Role of Body Image in the Prediction of Life Satisfaction and Flourishing in Men and Women," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 505-524, February.
    4. Jacky C. K. Ng & Algae K. Y. Au & Helen S. M. Wong & Carmen K. M. Sum & Victor C. Y. Lau, 2021. "Does Dispositional Envy Make You Flourish More (or Less) in Life? An Examination of Its Longitudinal Impact and Mediating Mechanisms Among Adolescents and Young Adults," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 1089-1117, March.

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