Personality correlates of the Five-Factor Model for a sample of business owners/managers: associations with scores on Self-Monitoring, Type A Behavior, Locus of Control, and Subjective Well-being

Diligent for better or worse: Conscientiousness is associated with higher likelihood of suicidal behavior and more severe suicidal intent in later life

BACKGROUND

Contradictory findings link trait conscientiousness in mid- and late life to increased healthspan and lifespan, as well as to death by suicide. It remains unclear whether conscientiousness is associated with higher odds of attempting suicide or with more severe suicidal behavior among attempters, and whether its relationship to suicide risk varies with aging-related stressors, such as declining health.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study comprising 313 depressed adults aged ≥40 years and participating in the Longitudinal Research Program in Late-Life Suicide (Pittsburgh, USA), we employed logistic and linear regression to test whether conscientiousness was associated with the presence of recent suicidal behavior (≤2 years) and with intent severity in recent attempters (n = 84). We further tested whether the above relationships varied based on mental, cognitive, and physical health status, measured as depression severity, cognitive functioning, and the presence/absence of severe physical illness.

RESULTS

Participants were 62.1 years old on average (SD = 7.6), 85% White, and 53% female. Recent attempters had a mean age of 61.8 years at their most recent attempt (SD = 8.5), had lower cognitive functioning and were more likely severely physically ill than comparisons. Conscientiousness was positively associated with a higher likelihood of recent suicidal behavior overall (adjusted OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.09, 1.90, p = .010), but not in case of co-occurring severe physical illness (interaction OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.30, 0.97, p = .039). Conscientiousness was also positively associated with suicidal intent at the most recent attempt (adjusted β = 1.60, SE = 0.62, p = .012), explaining 7% of its variance, although this association lost significance after adjusting for other personality dimensions.

CONCLUSIONS

Highly conscientious middle-aged and older adults may be at increased risk of resolute suicidal behavior, although conscientiousness may not confer additional suicide risk among those severely physically ill.

Satisfaction of basic psychological needs and European entrepreneurs' well-being and health: The association with job satisfaction and entrepreneurial motivation

PURPOSE

We examine an integrative model associating entrepreneurial motivation and job satisfaction with basic psychological needs satisfaction and the psychological well-being (PWB) and health problems of European entrepreneurs. In contrast with previous literature that focuses mainly on hedonic well-being, this study examines well-being by using a eudaimonic perspective and the link between entrepreneurial motivation and entrepreneurs' PWB.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH

Based on the self-determination theory (SDT) and using structural equation modeling, this study examines a European representative sample composed of 7,878 entrepreneurs from the sixth European Working Conditions Survey (6th EWCS; Eurofound [2015] database).

FINDINGS

This study finds a positive relationship between the satisfaction of the need for autonomy and competence and opportunity motivation, which in turn is positively associated with job satisfaction. This study also finds that need satisfaction is positively associated with entrepreneurs' PWB and job satisfaction, which in turn is positively associated with entrepreneurs' PWB and health. Results highlight the relevance of SDT, opportunity motivation, and job satisfaction to understanding entrepreneurs' PWB and health.

ORIGINALITY

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first integrative model relating satisfaction of basic psychological needs (autonomy and competence) and diverse individual outcomes related to work (job satisfaction, PWB, and health) of European entrepreneurs by considering entrepreneurial motivation. This study examines a large and representative European sample, in contrast with previous research focusing on the Anglosphere nations.

Mediating pathways of neuroticism and social anxiety in the relationship between childhood trauma and the fear of missing out among Chinese college students

Recent research has identified various risk factors for fear of missing out. However, studies on the potential influence of childhood trauma on the fear of missing out remain scarce, and little is known regarding the mediating mechanisms underlying this relationship. In this study, we examine the predictive role of childhood trauma on the fear of missing out among college students and investigate whether neuroticism and social anxiety mediate the relationship between childhood trauma and the fear of missing out. A sample of 1,266 Chinese college students completed questionnaires regarding childhood trauma, neuroticism, social anxiety, and the fear of missing out. The results indicated that (a) childhood trauma is positively associated with the fear of missing out, (b) both neuroticism and social anxiety mediate the relationship between childhood trauma and the fear of missing out, and (c) neuroticism and social anxiety sequentially mediate the relationship between childhood trauma and the fear of missing out. These findings have crucial implications for the prevention and intervention of the fear of missing out among college students.

Single mothers' subjective well-being: empirical evidence from Malaysia

The authors' purpose of this study is to investigate the antecedents of single mothers' subjective well-being. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted using a multi-stage random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling. The main findings are: (1) religiosity and locus of control positively influenced subjective well-being, (2) locus of control negatively influenced financial strain, (3) financial strain negatively influenced subjective well-being, and (4) age moderated the relationship between financial strain and subjective well-being. Implications and future research suggestions are discussed.

Locus of Control: The Mediation Effect between Emotional Stability and Pro-Environmental Behavior

Locus of control is a crucial factor in pro-environmental behavior. However, studies on pro-environmental behavior investigating the predisposing factors of internal locus of control are limited. Therefore, the objective of this study further explored the predisposing factors of locus of control and revealed that emotional stability may be a predisposing factor for internal locus of control and pro-environmental behavior. A questionnaire survey was conducted in Taiwan (n = 473) and the responses were explored using structural equation modeling path analysis. The results revealed that emotional stability can promote pro-environmental behavior through the mediation effect of internal locus of control, indicating that emotional stability is a predisposing factor for locus of control-generated pro-environmental behavior. Thus, the study results indicated that people with higher emotional stability and a stronger internal locus of control are more likely to engage in pro-environmental behavior. Hence, to promote pro-environmental behavior through environmental protection education, people’s self-control awareness must be strengthened to enable them to remain calm and peaceful.

Organizational commitment: an empirical analysis of personality traits

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of five-factor model of personality on organizational commitment in the higher educational institutes of Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative methodology was adopted to measure the impact of personality on organizational commitment. A structured questionnaire was e-mailed to the faculty members of the social science department of higher education institutes. SmartPLS software was used to run the structural equation modeling technique.

Findings

The findings showed that extroversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness are positively linked to affective commitment (AC), and neuroticism and openness has negative association with AC. Furthermore, extroversion and agreeableness were found to be negatively linked to continuance commitment. A negative link between neuroticism and continuance commitment while no relationship between conscientiousness, openness, and continuance commitment was found.

Research limitations/implications

Results have several implications for the personality and commitment literature. First, study provided comprehensive empirical evidence regarding the dispositional basis of organizational commitment notably; the authors found that the Big Five personality traits as a whole are significantly associated with organizational commitment. Second, the current findings underscore the role of agreeableness in shaping organizational commitment. Agreeableness was the strongest predictor of both AC and continuance commitment. Agreeableness may be especially relevant for predicting employee outcomes that are reliant on strong interpersonal or social exchange relationships. As such outcomes are becoming more and more critical in employee, group, and organizational effectiveness.

Originality/value

In general, findings show that Big Five traits play an important role in understanding employee commitment to the organization. Consistent with previous studies on personality traits in the workplace, practitioners will benefit from considering all of the Big Five traits in their selection systems.

The Five-Factor Model of Personality, Subjective Well-Being, and Social Adaptation: Generalizability to the Spanish Context

The relationships between the five-factor model of personality, subjective well-being, and social adaptation were examined in two Spanish groups, one of 112 undergraduate students and one of 177 participants from the general population. Analyses showed a clear pattern of low but positive associations among scores on well-being, social adaptation, and four of the five factors of personality (Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Emotional Stability), very similar to those obtained by previous research in the American context.

Work Volition Among U.S. Veterans

The present study examined correlates of work volition—the perceived capacity to make occupational choices despite constraints—with a diverse sample of 213 U.S. veterans. Veterans with higher levels of formal education, higher yearly incomes, were married, and were employed, endorsed greater work volition. Those who experienced lower posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, endorsed lower levels of neuroticism, higher levels of conscientiousness, and higher levels of internal locus of control, also demonstrated greater levels of work volition. A structural model was run where PTSD symptoms, neuroticism, and conscientiousness were hypothesized to predict work volition via locus of control and compared with an alternative model. After identifying a best fitting model, bootstrapping analyses demonstrated that locus of control fully mediated the relations between PTSD symptoms, neuroticism, and conscientiousness to work volition. Specifically, the key reason PTSD symptoms, neuroticism, and conscientiousness were related to work volition was their effect on general locus of control. Practical implications are discussed.

Extending Theory on Job Stress

This article proposes that the variation in perceived job stress by individuals is explained by the interaction between the situational “Other 3” dimensions (locus of control, self-monitoring, and self-efficacy) and the “Big 5” personality traits. Situational stressors primarily impact the “Other 3” dimensions in the general model. The “Other 3” dimensions mediate the stressor–job stress relationship, while the “Big 5” dimensions moderate the “Other 3”–job stress relationship. In the sequential process model, the “Other 3” dimensions and job stress are cross-lagged related to define subsequent variations in the “Other 3” dimensions of personality and job stress. This perspective is consistent with the interactional perspective, wherein personality mediates the relationship of the individual with the environment. We offer several research propositions and conclude with implications for research and practice.

Individual differences and developmental change in the ERN response: implications for models of ACC function

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has been associated with conditions precipitating an increase in effortful processing or increased attention, including the presence of conflicting information and the detection of errors. The error-related negativity (ERN), an electrocortical response, has been used as a marker for these conditions. The ERN amplitude however is subject to developmental change across the lifespan as well as being sensitive to individual differences in personality, affect, and autonomic responsivity. In this review, we examine the implications of such influences for a standard ACC model of conflict processing, and outline the need of any model of ACC function to include mechanisms that allow for the integration of neurovisceral and cognitive domains.

Reduced subjective quality of life in persons at risk for psychosis

OBJECTIVE

Subjective quality of life (sQoL) and potentially contributing factors were investigated in individuals putatively in an early (EIPS) or late initial prodromal state (LIPS) and healthy controls (HC).

METHOD

Participants comprised 58 EIPS individuals, 157 LIPS individuals and 87 HC individuals. sQoL was assessed together with locus of control (LoC), coping, demography and psychopathology.

RESULTS

Putatively prodromal groups exhibited markedly lower sQoL than HC (all domains P < 0.00001). EIPS and LIPS individuals did not differ significantly. Depression was the most consistent explaining variable of sQoL in EIPS and LIPS individuals. In EIPS individuals, LoC emerged as an additional predictor.

CONCLUSION

Individuals at risk for psychosis experienced a marked impairment of sQoL across all domains. This was evident even in the early state, showed no significant further deterioration during the late state and was predominantly explained by non-specific symptoms.

Spontaneous Eye Blink Rates vary according to individual differences in generalized control perception

This study tested the hypothesis that individual differences in generalized control perception for 43 undergraduate adults may be reflected in Spontaneous Eye Blink Rates during conversation in an interview. Control perception was assessed by means of Rotter's internal-external Locus of Control questionnaires, while Spontaneous Eye Blink Rates were computed from filmed videos of interviews consisting of a series of questions which could presumably have triggered different mental states. Pearson correlations and linear regression analyses indicated that the individual differences in Spontaneous Eye Blink Rates did not differ significantly across different questions, but that Spontaneous Eye Blink Rates measured over the entire interview correlated positively and significantly with an internal Locus of Control (r = .26). This could be interpreted as modest but corroborative evidence that a personality trait reflecting control perception may have a biological component. The possible roles of dopamine neurotransmission and frontal cortex involvement in higher cognition and Locus of Control are discussed.

On feeling in control: A biological theory for individual differences in control perception

This review aims to create a cross-disciplinary framework for understanding the perception of control. Although, the personality trait locus of control, the most common measure of control perception, has traditionally been regarded as a product of social learning, it may have biological antecedents as well. It is suggested that control perception follows from the brain's capacity for self regulation, leading to flexible and goal directed behaviours. To this account, a model is presented which spans several levels of analyses. On a behavioural level, control perception may be a corollary of emotion regulation, executive functions, and social cognition. On a neural level, these self-regulatory functions are substantiated in part by the dorsolateral and ventral prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex. In addition, a possible role of subcortical-cortical dopamine pathways underlying control perception is discussed.

Personality and aggressive behavior under provoking and neutral conditions: A meta-analytic review

The authors conducted a comprehensive review to understand the relation between personality and aggressive behavior, under provoking and nonprovoking conditions. The qualitative review revealed that some personality variables influenced aggressive behavior under both neutral and provocation conditions, whereas others influenced aggressive behavior only under provocation. Studies that assessed personality variables and that directly measured aggressive behavior were included in the quantitative review. Analyses revealed that trait aggressiveness and trait irritability influenced aggressive behavior under both provoking and neutral conditions but that other personality variables (e.g., trait anger, Type A personality, dissipation-rumination) influenced aggressive behavior only under provoking conditions. The authors discuss possible relations between these patterns of aggressive behavior and the personality dimensions of Agreeableness and Neuroticism and consider implications for theories of aggression.

The error-related negativity as a state and trait measure: Motivation, personality, and ERPs in response to errors

This study examines changes in the error-related negativity (ERN/Ne) related to motivational incentives and personality traits. ERPs were gathered while adults completed a four-choice letter task during four motivational conditions. Monetary incentives for finger and hand accuracy were altered across motivation conditions to either be equal or favor one type of accuracy over the other in a 3:1 ratio. Larger ERN/Ne amplitudes were predicted with increased incentives, with personality moderating this effect. Results were as expected: Individuals higher on conscientiousness displayed smaller motivation-related changes in the ERN/Ne. Similarly, those low on neuroticism had smaller effects, with the effect of Conscientiousness absent after accounting for Neuroticism. These results emphasize an emotional/evaluative function for the ERN/Ne, and suggest that the ability to selectively invest in error monitoring is moderated by underlying personality.

Are measures of self-esteem, neuroticism, locus of control, and generalized self-efficacy indicators of a common core construct?

The authors present results of 4 studies that seek to determine the discriminant and incremental validity of the 3 most widely studied traits in psychology-self-esteem, neuroticism, and locus of control-along with a 4th, closely related trait-generalized self-efficacy. Meta-analytic results indicated that measures of the 4 traits were strongly related. Results also demonstrated that a single factor explained the relationships among measures of the 4 traits. The 4 trait measures display relatively poor discriminant validity, and each accounted for little incremental variance in predicting external criteria relative to the higher order construct. In light of these results, the authors suggest that measures purporting to assess self-esteem, locus of control, neuroticism, and generalized self-efficacy may be markers of the same higher order concept.

Self-monitoring personality at work: a meta-analytic investigation of construct validity

The validity of self-monitoring personality in organizational settings was examined. Meta-analyses were conducted (136 samples; total N = 23,191) investigating the relationship between self-monitoring personality and work-related variables, as well as the reliability of various self-monitoring measures. Results suggest that self-monitoring has relevance for understanding many organizational concerns, including job performance and leadership emergence. Sample-weighted mean differences favoring male respondents were also noted, suggesting that the sex-related effects for self-monitoring may partially explain noted disparities between men and women at higher organizational levels (i.e., the glass ceiling). Theory building and additional research are needed to better understand the construct-related inferences about self-monitoring personality, especially in terms of the performance, leadership, and attitudes of those at top organizational levels.

Testgüte und psychometrische Äquivalenz der deutschen Version des Big Five Inventory (BFI) bei jungen, mittelalten und alten Erwachsenen

Zusammenfassung. In einer Studie mit 480 jungen, mittelalten und alten Erwachsenen wurde eine deutsche Version des “Big Five Inventory (BFI)“ eingesetzt. Es wurde die Äquivalenz der faktoriellen Struktur in den Altersgruppen sowie die Kriteriumsvalidität in Bezug auf 6 Außenkriterien überprüft (Intelligenz, positiver und negativer Affekt, Kontrollerleben, soziale Zufriedenheit und Netzwerkgröße). Die Stichprobe beruht auf einer nach Alter und Geschlecht geschichteten Wahrscheinlichkeitsauswahl aus dem Berliner Melderegister. Die Befunde weisen auf eine Invarianz der Faktorenstruktur in den Altersgruppen hin. Es zeigten sich erwartungskonforme und altersinvariante Korrelationen der 5 Persönlichkeitskonstrukte Extraversion, Verträglichkeit, Gewissenhaftigkeit, Neurotizismus und Offenheit für Erfahrung mit den Außenkriterien. In einer Studie mit 45 sehr alten Erwachsenen zeigten sich moderate bis hohe Retest-Stabilitäten über einen Zeitraum von 5 Monaten. Insgesamt erweist sich der BFI als leicht einsetzbares Instrument zur reliablen Erfassung des Fünf-Faktoren-Modells.

Adolescents' use of tobacco, health locus of control, and self-monitoring

This study examined the association of the traits, health locus of control, and self-monitoring with adolescents' tobacco uptake. Participants were 112 rural adolescents (12 to 19 years old, M = 15.3). Of that sample, 33% used tobacco. Tobacco users were found to score lower on the dimension of Internality and higher on the dimension of Chance, as compared with nonusers of tobacco, indicating a more external Health Locus of Control. In addition, tobacco users were lower self-monitors than were nonusers. These results suggest that adolescents who use tobacco feel less in control of their lives in relation to nonusers, believe that chance plays a larger role in their health, and believe they may be unable to monitor and adapt their communication to achieve positive outcomes.

Emotional stability, anxiety, and natural killer activity under examination stress

This study was performed to evaluate the relation between a stable personality trait, a mood state and immune response to an examination stress. A self-reported measure of emotional stability (BFQ-ES scale) was obtained in a sample (n = 39) randomly selected from 277 cadets; this personality trait was also investigated by completing a neuroticism scale (Eysenck personality inventory) and a trait-anxiety scale (STAI). Natural killer (NK) cell activity was measured at baseline, long before the examination time and the examination day. The state-anxiety scale evaluated the response to the stressful stimulus. Taking subjects all together, the academic task did not result in significant modification over baseline in NK cell activity. Subjects were then divided into three groups based on emotional stability and state-anxiety scores: high emotional stability/low anxiety, medium, and low emotional stability/high anxiety. Examination stress induced significant increases in NK cell activity in the high emotional stability/low anxiety group, no effect in the medium group, and significant decreases in the low emotional stability/high anxiety group. The repeated-measure ANOVA revealed a significant interaction of group x period (baseline vs. examination) for both lytic units and percent cytolysis. The results did not change after introducing coffee and smoking habits as covariates. Our findings suggest that the state-anxiety acts in concert with a stable personality trait to modulate NK response in healthy subjects exposed to a psychological naturalistic stress. The relation between anxiety and poor immune control has been already described, whereas the ability of emotional stability to associate with an immunoenhancement has not yet reported. The peculiarity of our population, a very homogeneous and healthy group for life style and habits, can have highlighted the role of emotional stability, and may account for the difference with other studies.