Well-Being and Personality as a Function of Genetic and Environmental Influences

Abstract

Subjective well-being (SWB) has been a growing focus of research internationally. Personality is one of the most important predictors of SWB. The interaction between SWB and personality is explained by a genetic component responsible for individual differences. Individual differences are a product of complex processes involving genetic and environmental factors, estimated through twin studies. The present study aims to estimate the genetic and environmental influences of SWB components and personality factors among pairs of twin siblings. A total of 201 pairs of twins, 146 MZ (monozygotic) and 55 DZ (dizygotic), with a mean age of 30.19 years (SD = 10.46, range 17 to 67 years), responded to the online questionnaire. We present estimates of heritability (h²) and unique environmental effects (e²) for SWB components: quality of life and life satisfaction (h² = 26% and e² = 74%), negative affect (h² = 23% and e² = 77%), and positive affect (h² = 21% and e² = 79%), and for personality factors: extraversion (h² = 55% and e² = 45%), conscientiousness (h² = 38% and e² = 62%), openness to experience (h² = 35% and e² = 65%), neuroticism (h² = 33% and e² = 67%), and agreeableness (h² = 23% and e² = 77%). This research has great potential, conducted in a country marked by social differences and population diversity, contributing to the understanding of factors that influence happiness and supporting interventions aimed at promoting mental health.