Research Five important personality traits that determine mental well-being

Physicians are looking for happy personality traits
Most people want more happiness and contentment in their lives. For years, psychological research seems to confirm that two personality traits are particularly important for the determination of well-being: extraversion and so-called neuroticism. Scientists are now exploring what other factors can affect our well-being.

The experts found in their study that extraversion and neuroticism are the two most important personality traits in determining well-being. In order to achieve a high level of well-being, people should be extroverted but not neurotic. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Journal of Personality".

People are looking for harmony, happiness and well-being in their lives. Experts have now identified some personality traits that lead to increased well-being. (Photo: Robert Kneschke / fotolia.com)

The five features of the Big Five personality model
The results of the current study emphasize the statements of the so-called Big Five personality model, the researchers report. This model is part of personality psychology, which postulates five major dimensions of personality. The five characteristics are: open-mindedness, conscientiousness (perfectionism), extroversion (socializing), tolerability (empathy) and neuroticism (mental vulnerability).

Physicians examine 706 subjects
The researchers studied 706 male and female participants with an average age of 36 years for their study. Then they analyzed the connection between several aspects of well-being and a variety of factors and personality traits. Humans are complex beings, the physicians wanted to find out how it affects the well-being, if the subjects are not extroverted or neurotic.

Certain personality traits enhance well-being
The scientists found five different personality traits that lead to a high level of well-being. These are five different ways to personal wellbeing, says author Scott Barry Kaufman. If you score high in any of these five personality aspects in tests, you're likely to feel better about different aspects of your life, the expert adds.

1. Enthusiasm
Enthusiastic people tend to be funny, friendly, sociable and emotionally expressive. It is not surprising that enthusiastic people are more likely to lead a happy life.

The researchers found in their research that enthusiasm leads to a better overall life satisfaction. For example, enthusiastic people are more likely to develop positive emotions, less negative emotions, increased self-acceptance, increased engagement, better-functioning relationships and greater personal growth.

2. Low neuroticism
People with a high level of neuroticism (mental vulnerability) generally become easily embarrassed and discouraged. Such people tend to be very self-confident but also prone to anxiety and depression.

People with low neuroticism showed greater autonomy, greater personal growth and many of the qualities of enthusiastic people.

3. diligence
When people are diligent, they are also performance-oriented, self-disciplined, efficient, purposeful, and competent, explains author Kaufman. Hard-working and hard-working people who concentrate on their tasks and do them reliably usually also have an improved well-being.

4. compassion
Compassionate people care about other people, are friendly and often tend to care about other people's lives. The researchers found that people with more compassion are happier in their own lives.

In other words, caring for the well-being of other people is likely to improve your own satisfaction.

5. Intellectual curiosity
If you like to think about complex things and your life experiences, discuss philosophical issues, read more sophisticated books, and be interested in new ideas, you probably have an increased intellectual curiosity, explain the scientists.

A high level of intellectual curiosity requires autonomy, personal growth and increased self-acceptance. High intellectual curiosity has no effect on more emotional variables, such as positive relationships or general engagement during life.

Assertiveness and creative openness can affect wellbeing
The above five features were the most important in predicting well-being, explain the authors of the study. But assertiveness and creative openness also seem to affect certain aspects of well-being.

These three features have no effect on well-being
Surprisingly, there were also three features that had no effect on well-being, say the experts. These were: courtesy, order and volatility. So theoretically, you can be as polite, tidy and impulsive as you want, this will not negatively affect your well-being. (As)