traits and well being a reciprocal story - spsp 2013 - chris martin
DESCRIPTION
As the life sciences evolve, theories of unidirectional effects often get replaced by theories involving cyclic or reciprocal effects. One area where effects have been considered unidirectional until now is trait theory. In fact, the Big Five are generally posited to be stable, and when change is discussed, a trait is considered as either an agent of change or a patient of change, but never both simultaneously. With regard to well-being, traits are almost always treated as agents of change. We recommend a revision to this model, by putting forth a reciprocal model of causality between well-being and traits. Using panel data from the Midlife in the United States random digit dialing sample of adults (N = 1602), we show that there is a reciprocal loop between psychological well-being and the Big Five, with extraversion and neuroticism being the most important factors on the trait side. These data call into question the set point theory of well-being, and they indicate that Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build mechanism of positive affect operates on larger time scales. The notable role of extraversion and neuroticism suggest that the attachment–avoidance system predicts exposure to positive vs. negative life events, and this system is in turn modulated by exposure to positive vs. negative events.TRANSCRIPT
Psychological Well-Being and the Big Five: A Reciprocal Story
Chris C. Martin & Corey L. M. KeyesDept. of Sociology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Lifespan Social–Personality Preconference 2013Fourteenth Annual Meeting of SPSP, New Orleans, LA
IntroductionAs the life sciences progress: Decline in theories of unidirectional effects Rise in theories of cyclic and reciprocal effects e.g., biological coevolution, gene-culture coevolution, family systems
Personality psychology is a “late bloomer.”
Longitudinal Trait Change: A History
First Generation (Trait theorists)Emphasized stability, not change, to establish validityDid not use longitudinal methods
Second Generation:Change over time was studied, with a focus on stability, maturity, and individual differences
Third Generation:Life events, genetics, sociogenomics, reciprocal causation
First Generation
ContextPsychoanalytic theory preceded trait theoryStudying traits required theoretical justificationBasis of traits was lexical
Arguments About StabilityCritics of traits emphasized situational varianceCounter-arguments
Second Generation
Pattern: Gradual change from stability to change as focus of research
Three Strains:Stability and Rank-Order Consistency -- Quantifying stability over the lifespan’s segmentsMaturation and Mean-Level Change -- Uncovering common maturation processesIndividual Differences-- Examining heterogeneity of trajectories--Life events
Third Generation: Causal Exploration
Explanations of both personality consistency and change:
Personality Consistency (Roberts & Caspi, 2003)--Genetic effects-- Attraction, selection, evocation, etc.-- Meta-process: identity clarity
Personality Change (Trzesniewski et al., 2003)-- Roles, social learning-- Work experiences, Relationship experiences, Historical/Political Factors
Recent Research I
Specht, Egloss, & Schmukle (2012) Examining mechanisms of personality maturation: The impact of life satisfaction on the Big Five
--German sample--Increases in life satisfaction covaried with positive increases in traits--Increase fit to environment may drive up satisfaction, which may then motivate personality change--Personality change may increase social rewards, which increase satisfactionLimitations--Only life satisfaction was measured
Recent Research II
Hill, Turiano, Mroczek, & Roberts (2012) Examining concurrent and longitudinal relations between personality traits and social well-being in adulthood
--American sample (MIDUS)--Incorporated four facets of social well-being--Latent growth curve analyses--Discovered covariation of social well-being and Big Five trait development
Overview of Current Study
--Study of covariation between trait change and well-being change--Incorporate three types of well-being
Emotional Wellbeing (EWB): Pertains to affective state (PA, SWLS) Psychological Wellbeing (PWB): Pertains to existential coping Social Wellbeing (SWB): Pertains to integration and connectedness
Psychological Well-Being (Ryff)
--Based on eudaimonia, an Aristotelian concept--Draws on conceptions from Erikson, Jung, Allport,
Maslow, Rogers, and others--Dimensions are: • Self-acceptance• Purpose in Life• Environmental Mastery• Positive Relations• Personal Growth• Autonomy
Social Well-Being
--Based on sociological conceptions of well-being--Draws on Durkheim, Seeman, and Marx--Dimensions are: • Social integration• Social acceptance• Social contribution• Social actualization• Social coherence
Mid-Life Development in the U.S. (MIDUS)
--MIDUS I (1995-96) and MIDUS II (2004-2006)-- Non-institutionalized, English-speaking adults, ages 25-74-- Random digit dialing led to phone interview and questionnaire
Measures of Traits, Well-Being, Environment
Big Five: Combined 25 adjectives from multiple scales (Lachman & Weaver, 1997)
Emotional Well-Being: 7 PA items, 1 SWLS item
Psychological Well-Being: Ryff's Scales of Psychological Well-Being
Social Well-Being: Keyes’s Scale of Social Well-Being
Perceived Neighborhood Quality
Perceived Neighborhood Quality/Health (α = .68)
A. I feel safe being out alone in my neighborhood during the daytime
B. I feel safe being out alone in my neighborhood at night.C. I could call on a neighbor for help if I needed itD. People in my neighborhood trust each other
High scores reflect positive perception of home & neighborhood (Keyes, 1998).
In MIDUS I:Range = 1–4. Mean = 3.4. SD = .5.Skewness = -1.1
Data Analysis
Used difference Scores to measure longitudinal change in traits and well-being
Difference scores are useful when only two time points are used
(e.g., Graham & Lachman, 2012; Human et al., 2012; Turiano et al., 2012; see Rogosa & Willett, 1983)
Results: Extraversion (T2) as Outcome
Results: Psych. Well-Being (T2) as Outcome
Results: Summary
Change Scores
change in EWB
change in PWB
change in SWB
Trait
Extraversion *** *** **
Neuroticism *** *** ***
Conscientiousness ***
Agreeableness + *** **
Openness *** **
change in Extra
change in Neuro
change in Cons
change in Agree
change in Open
Wellbeing
EWB *** *** **
__Life satisfaction *** *** **
__PA *** ***
__NA *** *** * *** ***
PWB (Psychological well…) *** *** *** ***
SWB (Social well…) *** *** * **
Moderator: Perceived Neighborhood Quality(Using MODPROBE Macro in SPSS [Hayes;afhayes.com])
Interaction ΔR2
Well-Beings
(predicted by Trait change)
EWB (Emotional well…)Extraversion
Neuroticism
Conscientiousness *Agreeableness *
Openness * PWB (Psychological well…)
Extraversion
Neuroticism
Conscientiousness
Agreeableness * *Openness *
SWB (Social well…)Extraversion *Neuroticism
Conscientiousness *Agreeableness * *
Openness * *
Interaction ΔR2
Traits (EWB change)
ExtraversionNeuroticismConscientiousness Neg*AgreeablenessOpenness
Traits (PWB
change)
ExtraversionNeuroticismConscientiousnessAgreeableness * *Openness
Traits (SWB change)
ExtraversionNeuroticismConscientiousness * *Agreeableness * +Openness *
Discussion
--"Healthy" maturation on a trait is associated with positive well-being outcomes
--Reciprocally, growth in well-being is associated with "healthier" levels on health traits.
Approach and Avoidance
Extraversion and neuroticism are analogs of approach and avoidance (Elliot & Thrash, 2010)
Functions are appetitive goal pursuit (planned) and avoidance of threats (typically unplanned)
Approach goals are associated with greater well-being than avoidance goals
Similarities with Other Research
Upward focus:--Frederickson's Broaden and Build Hypothesis & upward spiral dynamics
Homeostatis Focus--Charles's Strength and Vulnerability Integration--”Set point" theory and hedonic treadmill (Diener, Lucas, and Scollon, 2009)
Pragmatic Nature of Traits
--State extraversion is for accomplishing goals, according to whole-trait theory (McCabe and Fleeson, 2012)--"Extraversion appears to facilitate people's goals to have fun, to connect with people, to entertain people, to stir things up, and to be a leader, among many others”
Limitations
Observer ratings would have improved trait measurement.
Multiple-wave studies would have helped for latent curve analysis (Singer & Willett, 2003).
Rogosa, D. R., & Willett, J. B. (1983). Demonstrating the reliability the difference score in the measurement of change. Journal of Educational Measurement, 20, 335-343. doi:10.1111/j.1745-3984.1983.tb00211.x
Ryff, C. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 1069-1081.
Ouweneel, E., Le Blanc, P. M., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2011). Flourishing students: A longitudinal study on positive emotions, personal resources, and study engagement. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 6(2), 142-153
Salanova, M., Llorens, S., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2011). Yes, I can, I feel good, and I just do it!" On gain cycles and spir
Turiano, A., Pitzer, L. M., Armour, C., Karlamangla, A., Ryff, C. D., & Mroczek, D. K.(2012). Personality trait level and change as predictors of health outcomes: Findings from a national study of Americans (MIDUS). The Journals of Gerontology Series B:Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbr072
Fredrickson, B. L. (in press). Positive emotions broaden and build. In E. Ashby Plant & P.G. Devine (Eds.), Advances on Experimental Social Psychology, Volume 47.
Graham, E. K., & Lachman, M. E. (2012). Personality stability is associated with better cognitive performance in adulthood: Are the stable more able? Journal of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbr149
Keyes, C. L. M. (1998). Social well-being. Social Psychology Quarterly, 61, 121-140.
Lachman, M., & Weaver, S. L. (1997). The Midlife Development Inventory (MIDI) personality scales: Scale construction and scoring (Tech. Rep. No.1). Waltham, MA: Brandeis University, Department of Psychology.
McCabe and Fleeson, 2012, What Is Extraversion For? Integrating Trait and Motivational Perspectives and Identifying the Purpose of Extraversion. Also perhaps McCabe's dissertation: ""The Distinctiveness of Extraversion and Conscientiousness through Goal Pursuit: A Test of the Subcomponent-State Function Theory""
References