Personality factors, self-concept and happiness in adolescence: A comparison between two age levels

MELEDDU, MAURO;GUICCIARDI, MARCO;SCALAS, LAURA FRANCESCA

2008-01-01

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Abstract

Extraversion is generally considered the main predictor of happiness, however, several studies found that neuroticism, or emotional stability, was the strongest predictor of both happiness and life satisfaction (Hills, Argyle, 2001a; DeNeve, Cooper, 1998). In parallel, extraversion and neuroticism are related to cognitive components of well-being such as self-esteem (Diener, Suh, 1996; Hills, Argyle, 2001b). In turn, self-concept clarity is a major component of self-esteem and identity (Campbell, 1990). Furthermore, during adolescence, emotional autonomy affects positively identity and self-esteem (Blos, 1962; 1967). The study examines the relationship existing during adolescence between happiness and the factors cited above. Significant associations between happiness and the other constructs were expected. Specifically, it was hypothesized that, in addition to neuroticism and extraversion, emotional autonomy offers a significant contribution to the prediction of happiness, its sub-factors, as swell as self-esteem and self-concept clarity. Different contribution of the predictors in relation to the diverse happiness dimensions and age levels were also expected. Two groups of students completed the following battery of instruments: Eysenck Personality Inventory, Emotional Autonomy Scale, Self-concept Clarity Scale, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI). Age ranged from 14 to 16 in the first group (N= 250), and from 17 to 21 in the second group (N= 157). Correlation coefficients and a multiple regression confirmed the existence of significant links between overall happiness and the other constructs under examination (p < .001). In addition, a set of hierarchical regressions, with neuroticism, extraversion and emotional autonomy entered as independent variables, supported the main hypotheses