The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised (EPQ-R) was used in a recent study examining personality and other factors as they predict happiness. Personality, self-esteem, depression, happiness and other aspects were measured by self-report and these data were explored using multiple regression. It was reported in this study that correlates and predictors of happiness and unhappiness were not necessarily “mirror images” of each other and were in fact quite different.

Two hundred and thirty-four participants completed the series of questionnaires, 75 of which were male and 159 were female.


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They were British students ranging from 15 to 35 years old. Each participant was asked to complete the EPQ-R, Short Version which is a 48-item version adapted from the full 90 item EPQ that measures Extraversion, Neuroticism, Psychoticism and contains a Social Desirability or Lie scale. The students were also asked to complete other inventories measuring such concepts as self-esteem, happiness and depression. In addition, participants filled out answers to such demographic questions as gender, age, employment of parents, parental divorce, and number of siblings.

The study examined many relationships including the correlations between demographic variables, personality, self-esteem, “aspects of life,” affect depression and whether they were “mirror” images of each other in terms of “causal pathway.” It was found that predictors of happiness and depression were not mirror images but were very different.

For example, although extraversion was a predictor of happiness it was never a direct predictor of depression. Also gender seems to be a direct predictor of depression but was not as important in predicting happiness. Self-esteem was the most direct predictor of both happiness and depression. However, self-esteem was less a predictor of happiness when self-esteem was divided into two subscales. Negative self-esteem appeared to have no affect on happiness whereas positive self-esteem appeared to predict happiness. Both negative and positive self-esteem appeared to be major factors in depression. The authors of this study point out that “. . .individuals with low self-esteem tend to be more prone to depression and being in a depressed state may sustain individuals’ low sense of self-worth. . .”

In terms of the relationship between personality and happiness, there was a strong positive correlation between happiness and extraversion and an expected negative correlation between happiness and neuroticism. Although the negative correlation between happiness and neuroticism was expected, the fact that introversion correlated negatively for happiness was less expected. One theory supported by researchers in this study is that extraverts may have a higher sensitivity to pleasure and thus have more positive affect than introverts. Overall, the high correlation between extraversion and happiness needs further exploration.

References
Cheng, H., & Furnham, A. (2003). Personality, self-esteem, and demographic predictions of happiness and depression. Personality and Individual Differences, 34, 921-942.

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