Personality Traits and Social Desirability as Predictors of Subjective Well-being
Authors
Andreja Brajša-Žganec
Institute of Social Sciences "Ivo Pilar"
Marulicev trg 19/1
Danijela Ivanović
Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb
Ljiljana Kaliterna Lipovčan
Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences, Zagreb
Keywords:
subjective well-being, life satisfaction, positive and negative affects, the Big Five model of personality, social desirability
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between personality traits, social desirability and subjective well-being (SWB). A total of 392 students (195 females and 197 males), aged 19 to 26 years (M = 20.25, SD = 1.46) completed the Satisfaction with Life Scale, PANAS, Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale and measures of Big Five personality dimensions (IPIP50).Hierarchical regression analyses were performed with personality traits and social desirability as predictors and SWB components (satisfaction with life, positive and negative affects) as dependent variables. The results confirmed the previous findings that personality, specifically Extraversion, Emotional Stability and Conscientiousness, represent strong predictors of SWB. Unlike other studies, Intellect significantly predicted positive affect and Agreeableness showed additional significant prediction of absence of negative affect. Social desirability, when entered independently in analysis, was found to be a significant predictor of all three SWB components. In combination with personality traits, social desirability showed association only with absence of negative affect which can be explained by the links between social desirability and personality traits. These findings indicate that relationship between social desirability, personality traits and SWB is more complex than previous studies suggests. Social desirability appears to be a variable that together with personality traits provides additional facilitation of SWB.
