The influence of Big Five personality traits on subjective well-being: Mediation of job satisfaction

Abstract

This study examines the influence of mediation of job satisfaction on the Big Five personality traits and SWB relationship using a sample of 818 urban employees from five Chinese cities, Harbin, Changchun, Shenyang, Dalian and Fushun. All the studied variables are measured with well established multi-item scales that have been validated both in English speaking populations and in China. The PRODCLIN three-step method, which can overcome the limitations of the commonly used Baron and Kenny causal approach, was used to test the mediating role of job satisfaction on the Big Five and subjective wellbeing relationship. The statistical analysis found that the relationship between extraversion and subjective wellbeing is partially mediated by job satisfaction. Conscientiousness and neuroticism only have a direct effect on subjective wellbeing. The research also found a stronger role of Big Five in predicting subjective wellbeing than predicting job satisfaction. The findings of a significant effect of extraversion, neuroticism and conscientiousness on subjective wellbeing support the instrumental theory. The finding of a stronger effect of extraversion than neuroticism in predicting subjective wellbeing suggest that culture may moderate the Big Five and subjective wellbeing relationshiship. © 2011 IEEE.