What makes a person happy throughout their life? Research tells us that happiness is determined to a certain extent by different factors related to genetic, socio-environmental, work, personal and economic well-being.
Today we will focus on research that focused on personality traits and found two factors that could explain people’s happiness from their adolescence until entering old age.
The research, which began in 1946, evaluated different personality traits of 2,529 people when they were between 16 and 26 years old, and they were evaluated again when they turned 60, but this time they were asked about their well-being. and satisfaction with life.
By computing the data and comparing it, the psychologists found that the personality trait known as extroversion in adolescence had a direct positive impact on people’s well-being and satisfaction with life. On the other hand, the factor had a negative impact on people’s well-being and happiness.
Psychologists explain that this is because the trait very neurotic It makes people more susceptible to anxiety, depression, and health problems. Instead the extroversion It is linked to greater social activity, more vitality and activity. A person with optimal levels of extroversion will be able to integrate healthily with their environment, carry out physical activities, which will also keep their health in good condition and consequently feel better and will even be able to prevent some diseases. On the other hand, the person with high levels of neuroticism They are more likely to suffer from stress, to live an anxious life, at risk of developing other physical and mental disorders, and even to exclude themselves from the social environment. All of this will make the person feel less happy.
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An interesting investigation that makes us reflect to what extent our personality determines how we relate to and interpret environmental, external and social events that make us happy or not.
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