Personality predictors of successful development: Toddler temperament and adolescent personality traits predict well-being and career stability in middle adulthood
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2015 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | PLOS ONE |
| Citation | |
| Web | http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0126032 |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0126032 |
| Keywords | temperament; successful development; longitudinal study |
| Description | The aim of the study was to predict both adaptive psychological functioning (well-being) and adaptive social functioning (career stability) in middle adulthood based on behaviors observed in the toddlerhood and personality traits measured in adolescence. 83 people have participated in an ongoing longitudinal study started in 1961 (58 % women). Behavior of children was described using a set of 12 rating scales during each testing session. Factor analysis with mean scores of rating scales for the age of 12 to 30 months yielded 3 factors: positive affectivity, negative affectivity, and disinhibition. In adolescence the personality traits of extraversion and neuroticism were measured by means of Maudsley Personality Inventory at the age of 16 years. As indicators of adaptive psychological functioning in adulthood various aspects of well-being were used: life satisfaction, self-esteem, and self-efficacy. Career stability was used as an indicator of adaptive social functioning. Using the data from Life History Calendar a variable characterizing the respondents in terms of lifelong course of career was created.The job career of respondents was characterized as stable, unstable or changeable. The best predictor of well-being indicators proved to be extraversion measured at the age of 16 years; in case of self-efficacy it was also childhood disinhibition. Extraversion predicts also career stability: higher level of extraversion increases the likelihood that the individual´s career will be changeable compared to unstable. Career stability is further predicted by child disinhibition and negative affectivity: higher level of disinhibition increases the likelihood of stable and changeable career compared to unstable career, while higher level of negative affectivity decreases the likelihood of stable and changeable career compared to unstable career. Findings are discussed in the context of theoretical framework of higher order factors of Big Five personality constructs, stability and plasticity. |