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Anxious or Depressed and Still Happy?
Philip Spinhoven1, Bernet M Elzinga2, Erik Giltay3
1Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Plos One
|October 14, 2015
Summary
Individuals with higher symptom levels or emotional disorders report lower happiness. Personality traits like extraversion and neuroticism predict future happiness, independent of mental health status, suggesting personality influences well-being.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Emotional disorders and symptom severity are often associated with reduced happiness.
- Personality traits, such as extraversion and neuroticism, are known correlates of emotional well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the cross-sectional relationship between symptom levels/emotional disorders and happiness.
- To prospectively assess if personality traits predict future happiness independently of emotional disorder status.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study of 2142 adults (aged 18-65) with current/past emotional disorders or healthy controls.
- Self-ratings of happiness, emotional well-being, and symptom severity were collected.
- Time-lagged measurements of personality (extraversion, neuroticism), symptom severity, and disorders (anxiety, depression) predicted happiness at T6.
Main Results:
- Higher depressive symptoms, major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, and comorbid disorders were linked to lower happiness.
- Depression severity and disorder predicted future happiness.
- Extraversion and neuroticism predicted future happiness independently of concurrent emotional disorder and symptom severity.
Conclusions:
- A 'happy' personality (high extraversion, low neuroticism) forecasts future happiness, aligning with the dual continua model of well-being and illness.
- Interventions aimed at boosting positive emotionality may benefit individuals predisposed to lower happiness levels.
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