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Self-Other Agreement in Happiness and Life-Satisfaction: The Role of Personality Traits

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  • Henrik Dobewall
  • Anu Realo
  • Jüri Allik
  • Tõnu Esko
  • Andres Metspalu

Abstract

The aim of the current study is to examine the role of personality traits in self-other agreement in happiness and life-satisfaction which are often seen as the essential components of subjective well-being (SWB). Self-reports on the SWB measure and the NEO Personality Inventory-3 were obtained from 1,251 Estonians aged between 18 and 86 years. Other-ratings on the same measures were provided by knowledgeable informants. The measure of SWB showed significant self-other agreement, r = .55 (p = .000). We found this agreement to be transmitted (i.e., mediated) through the self- and other-rated personality facet scores of N3 (Depression) and E6 (Positive Emotions), Z = 2.8001–11.7142. The findings suggest that when an informant evaluates someone’s happiness or life-satisfaction, his/her rating is inflated by the image held about the personality of this person. Furthermore, self-reported SWB reflects, to some extent, what other people think about one’s personality. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Henrik Dobewall & Anu Realo & Jüri Allik & Tõnu Esko & Andres Metspalu, 2013. "Self-Other Agreement in Happiness and Life-Satisfaction: The Role of Personality Traits," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 114(2), pages 479-492, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:114:y:2013:i:2:p:479-492
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-012-0157-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ed Diener, 1994. "Assessing subjective well-being: Progress and opportunities," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 31(2), pages 103-157, February.
    2. Amery Wu & Bruno Zumbo, 2008. "Understanding and Using Mediators and Moderators," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 87(3), pages 367-392, July.
    3. Adrian Furnham & Helen Cheng, 2000. "Lay Theories of Happiness," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 1(2), pages 227-246, June.
    4. Leann Schneider & Ulrich Schimmack, 2009. "Self-Informant Agreement in Well-Being Ratings: A Meta-Analysis," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 94(3), pages 363-376, December.
    5. Heidi Lepper, 1998. "Use of Other-Reports to Validate Subjective Well-Being Measures," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 367-379, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Anu Realo & Janika Johannson & Monika Schmidt, 2017. "Subjective Well-Being and Self-Reported Health in Osteoarthritis Patients Before and After Arthroplasty," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 1191-1206, August.
    2. Hatice Odacı & Özkan Cikrikci, 2019. "Cognitive Flexibility Mediates the Relationship between Big Five Personality Traits and Life Satisfaction," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 14(5), pages 1229-1246, November.
    3. Jüri Allik & Rene Mõttus & Anu Realo & Dmitri Rozgonjuk, 2018. "What Makes Young Russians Happy and Satisfied With Their Lives?," SAGE Open, , vol. 8(3), pages 21582440188, September.

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