Named personality traits that affect life and work satisfaction

Researchers from Tilburg University studied how the relationship between personality traits and

life satisfaction changes over timetime. The analysis showed that certain qualities influence the perception of quality of life and career throughout life. This connection is stable and does not depend on age.

Scientists analyzed data collected since 2008to 2019 in a nationally representative household survey in the Netherlands. Among other things, participants were asked to complete a survey to rate Big Five personality traits and satisfaction with life, social connections, and work.

The big five model highlights five keypersonality traits: openness to new experiences, conscientiousness (conscientiousness), extraversion, agreeableness (ability to come to an agreement) and emotional stability. The survey involved 9,110 Dutch people aged 16 to 95 (as of 2008) who filled out the questionnaire for 11 years.

The researchers found that mostrelationships between personality traits and satisfaction remain unchanged throughout adult life. In addition, the study found that high emotional stability was most closely associated with people's satisfaction with their lives, social connections, and careers.

The researchers noted that conscientiousness increased a person's job satisfaction, while extraversion and agreeableness increased the quality of social connections. 

The analysis also showed that although in general the relationshippersisted regardless of age, the change in these traits led to increased satisfaction in the relevant area. For example, people who became more agreeable with age reported an improvement in the quality of social connections.

Although we have not studied what caused these changes,research shows that our personalities and our happiness are not set in stone. We can probably even influence how we change: if we try to become more organized, sociable, friendly, this will also increase satisfaction with life, communication or work.

Manon van Scheppingen, professor at Tilburg University and co-author of the study

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