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Adolescent Life Satisfaction and Personality Characteristics: Investigating Relationships Using a Five Factor Model

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  • Shannon Suldo
  • Devon Minch
  • Brittany Hearon

Abstract

The current study investigated the relationships among personality factors and life satisfaction in high school students (N = 624), who completed self-report measures of global life satisfaction and personality characteristics consistent with a Five Factor Model (i.e., extraversion, neuroticism, openness to experience, conscientiousness, and agreeableness). Analyses indicated that approximately 47 % of the variance in adolescents’ life satisfaction scores was accounted for by their levels of the Big Five personality factors. Neuroticism emerged as the strongest predictor. Openness, conscientiousness, and extraversion were also significant and unique predictors of life satisfaction. Regarding gender differences, a higher level of agreeableness was related to higher life satisfaction for girls, but not for boys. Findings support the importance of including all Big Five personality factors in exploratory models of life satisfaction, and contribute to an understanding of gender-specific models of predictors of life satisfaction. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Shannon Suldo & Devon Minch & Brittany Hearon, 2015. "Adolescent Life Satisfaction and Personality Characteristics: Investigating Relationships Using a Five Factor Model," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 965-983, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:16:y:2015:i:4:p:965-983
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-014-9544-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    13. Eui Kyung Kim & Michael J. Furlong & Erin Dowdy, 2019. "Adolescents’ Personality Traits and Positive Psychological Orientations: Relations with Emotional Distress and Life Satisfaction Mediated by School Connectedness," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 12(6), pages 1951-1969, December.
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    17. Chris Sakellariou, 2023. "The Effect of Body Image Perceptions on Life Satisfaction and Emotional Wellbeing of Adolescent Students:," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(4), pages 1679-1708, August.
    18. María J. Blanca & Marta Ferragut & Margarita Ortiz-Tallo & Rebecca Bendayan, 2018. "Life Satisfaction and Character Strengths in Spanish Early Adolescents," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(5), pages 1247-1260, June.
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