Bridging Personality and Well-Being Through the Positive Cognitive Triad

This study makes a significant contribution by identifying the importance of the positive cognitive triad (PCT) in the relationship between Big Five personality traits and well-being. Using Structural Equation Modeling, we investigated two perspectives on well-being: hedonic (subjective) and eudaimonic (psychological) (N = 935). Negative emotionality strongly predicted both subjective and psychological well-being, but its impact was more pronounced for subjective well-being. Extraversion and conscientiousness had no direct effects on subjective well-being, whereas their indirect effects through PCT were significant, suggesting that their influence on well-being is primarily cognitive. In contrast, conscientiousness and open-mindedness predicted psychological well-being, indicating that these traits contribute more substantially to psychological flourishing than to hedonic well-being. PCT predictive power was stronger for psychological well-being, reinforcing the idea that cognitive appraisals are central to eudaimonic well-being. The results emphasize the importance of addressing cognitive factors in personality and well-being research.