Abstract

Objectives: The goal of the study was to examine five main per-sonality factors in both genders and the role of personality traits in the Subjective Well-being Scales.

Method: A total of 425 students (167 male and 258 female) completed the Five Factors Inventory (BFI) and Subjective Well-being Scales. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to examine gender differences on the five big personality factors (i.e. extraversion, conscientiousness, openness to experience, neuroticism, and agree-ableness). Multiple hierarchical regression analyses were also conducted to examine the relation between gender and Subjective Well-being Scales, and to test whether this association was moderated by neuro-ticism and extraversion.

Results: Girls scored significantly higher than boys in factors for neuroticism and agreeableness (p<0.001 for both) boys scored significantly higher than girls in factors for extraversion (p<0.001), conscientiousness (p<0.01), and openness to experience (p<0.05). The MANOVA yielded significant main effect of gender. Results of hierarchical regression analyses, too, showed that after controlling for the personality factors, there was no significant correlation between the variable gender and any of the three levels of subjective well-being. In other words, findings suggest that gender differences in personality factors of neuroticism and extraversion play an influential role in predicting their subjective well-being state.

Conclusion: Personality traits act as moderators in the relation between the students’ gender and their subjective well-being. Authorities in general health must also recognize the role of personality traits in examining the relationship between gender differences and subjective well-being state of individuals.