1. Quality of Life Among Canadian Emerging Adults: The Role of Temperament, Values, and Social Support
Rosanne Menna, Julie Hakim-Larson, Shawna A. Scott, Emily M. Johnson,
Emily Kear, & Cassandra Pasiak
University of Windsor
METHOD
Participants
• The sample was 282 undergraduate students aged 17 to 25
years (M age = 20.06 years, SD = 1.73; 85% female). The
majority of the sample was Caucasian/European (62%),
followed by Middle Eastern (10%), Asian (8%), South Asian
(6%), Black (3%), Aboriginal (1%), and 5% mixed race.
• Participants completed an online survey comprised of a number
of measures, including a background information questionnaire
and counterbalanced questionnaires relating to their
relationships, temperament, values, attitudes toward their
heritage culture and Canadian culture, and their well-being.
DISCUSSION
CONTACT
• Pearson bivariate correlations among all scales were examined
(Table 1). Negative affect was significantly and negatively
correlated with QOL.
• QOL was significantly and positively related to effortful control,
attitudes toward parental authority, and sense of belonging.
• QOL was also positively related to values depicting self-
enhancement (achievement, stimulation), openness to change
(self-direction), and conservation (conformity, security).
• Predictors of QOL were entered into a multiple regression
analysis. The overall regression model was significant, r2= .30,
F(12, 210) = 7.43, p<.001. Sense of belonging was a significant
predictor of quality of life (squared semi-partial correlation [sr2=
.41] (Table 2).
Measures
1. Adult Temperament Questionnaire – Short Form (Evans &
Rothbart, 2007): 77 items; measures the main factors of adult
temperament; subscales used were negative affect and
effortful control.
2. Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (Cohen & Hoberman,
1983): 48 items; measures perceptions of social support;
subscale used was sense of belonging (someone you can do
things with).
3. Short Schwart’s Value Survey (Lindeman & Verkasolo, 2005):
10 items; measures values depicting self-enhancement
(achievement, stimulation), openness to change (self-
direction), and conservation (conformity, security).
4. Family Values (International Comparative Study of Ethno-
cultural Youth, as reported by Berry, Phinney, Sam, & Vedder,
2006): 14 items; measures attitudes toward parental authority
and one’s autonomy/freedom of choice.
5. Quality of Life (World Health Organization QOL-BREF Version,
WHOQOL Group, 2004): 32 items; measures quality of life in a
number of areas (social, spiritual, emotional, cognitive,
physical, functional, and integrated). The total integrated score
was used.
For more information regarding this study, please contact Rosanne Menna
(rmenna@uwindsor.ca) or Julie Hakim-Larson (hakim@uwindsor.ca)
• The findings of the present study support the role of social
support as an influential predictor of overall quality of life.
Individuals who feel connected to others and their communities
tend to experience a greater quality of life.
• A number of significant associations suggest that individuals,
who are positive, in control, open to change, and value self-
enhancement experience greater quality of life.
• Future research should continue to examine factors that
promote resiliency and foster greater quality of life in young
adults. Findings have the potential to inform mental health
interventions aimed at the prevention and/or early intervention
of youth mental health problems.
RESULTS
• Emerging adulthood is a time of increased risk for
maladjustment (e.g., Kessler et al., 2005). Emotional and
behavioural problems in young adults are associated with a
range of negative psychological, social and economic
outcomes, and significant emotional and economic costs to
society (e.g., Bergeron et al., 2005; Kessler et al., 2009).
• It is critical to better understand factors that promote resiliency
and well-being in youth. Employing a biopsychosocial
framework, this study examined potential proximal (e.g.,
effortful control, individual values) and distal (e.g., sense of
belongingness) predictors of quality of life.
• Quality of life (QOL), is defined by the World Health
Organization, as “an individual’s perception of their position in
life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they
live, and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and
concern” (WHOQOL Group, 1994). Recently, multi- dimensional
assessment measures have been developed to assess overall
QOL and specific domains of QOL (physical health,
psychological, social relationships and environment).
• The purpose of this study was to better understand the links
between temperament, specifically effortful control and
negative affect, individual values, family values (i.e., attitudes
toward parental authority and autonomy), sense of belonging,
and overall QOL in emerging adults.
INTRODUCTION