This study examines the genetic and environmental influences on personality traits and subjective well-being (SWB). The researchers analyzed data from 1,386 twins and found that: 1) Approximately one-third of the genetic variation in SWB is distinct from the genetic variation in personality traits. 2) When examining the sources of variance in SWB, 72% was due to genetic effects (with 64% shared with personality and 36% unique) and 28% was due to individual environmental effects (with 63% shared with personality and 37% unique). 3) While personality and SWB are genetically related, the findings suggest that characterizing well-being as solely a "personality thing" may be an over

1. All in the Family
The Shared and Distinctive Causes of Personality and Well-Being
Chris C. Martin & Corey L. M. Keyes
Introduction
An Exaggerated Claim
‣ Personality traits exhibit a very strong
association with subjective well-being
(SWB). Genes may partially underlie this
phenomenon (Diener, Suh, Lucas, &
Smith, 1999, p. 282).
‣ The literature on the genetic variance in
well-being, however, has solely focused on
emotional well-being (e.g., Bartels &
Boomsma, 2009).
‣ Thus, some claims may be exaggerated.
For instance, Weiss, Bates, and Luciano
(2008) found no genetic variance in SWB
to be unique from personality, and claimed
that "happiness is a personality thing."
However, they neglected psychological and
social well-being.
Using the Tripartite Model
‣ The tripartite models derives from the
hedonic and eudaimonic traditions of
well-being scholarship.
‣ The eudaimonic tradition includes
psychological well-being, which focuses on
functioning in domains such as
purpose, contribution, and mastery in life.
‣ The eudaimonic tradition also includes
social well-being, which focuses on
functioning in domains such as social
acceptance, societal integration, and social
contribution.
Methods
Sample
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Department of Sociology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Results
Bivariate Model
‣ The twin sample examined here
‣ In this case and the two cases below, the best fitting model
included a total of 1,386 twins from samesex twin pairs: 186 female monozygotic
(MZ), 198 female dizygotic (DZ), 163 male
MZ, and 123 male DZ twins. Their mean
age was 44.6 (SD = 12.2).
‣ The genetic correlations with SWB ranged from a low of .42 for
included additive genetic effects and individual-specific
environment , and excluded shared environmental effects.
‣ Emotional, psychological and social
well-being were measured using Likert
scales. The Midlife in the United States
(MIDUS) adjectival scale was used to
measure the Big Five.
Analytic Plan
Model run separately for each trait.
Agreeableness (Openness = .50, Neuroticism = -.53, and
Conscientiousness = .55) to a high of .62 for Extraversion. The
unique environmental correlations with SWB ranged from a low of
.40 for Openness (Conscientiousness = .45, Agreeableness =
.46, and Extraversion = .51) to a high of -.58 with Neuroticism.
Six-Variable Cholesky Decomposition Model
‣ This model decomposes the genetic and environmental
‣ We used structural equation models to
contribution to SWB into those shared with the Big Five versus
those unique to SWB.
determine the genetic and environmental
sources of personality traits and wellbeing levels. The phenotypic variance
comprises additive genetic effects
(A), shared environmental effects (C), and
unique environmental effects (E) (Kendler
& Prescott, 2006).
‣ For genetic effects, the total heritability of SWB was 72%. Of this
total, 64% was shared with personality and 36% was unique.
Individual-specific environmental effects account for 28% of the
variance in SWB, of which 63% was shared with personality
measures and 37% was unique.
References
Bartels, M., & Boomsma, D. I. (2009). Born to be happy? The etiology of
subjective well-being. Behavior Genetics, 39, 605-615.
doi:10.1007/s10519-009-9294-8
Bivariate Common-Pathway Model
Diener, E., Suh, E. M., Lucas, R. E., & Smith, H. L. (1999). Subjective wellbeing: Three decades of progress. Psychological Bulletin, 125, 276-302.
doi:10.1037/0033-2909.125.2.276
Kendler, K. S., & Prescott, C. A. (2006). Genes, environment, and
psychopathology: Understanding the causes of psychiatric and substance use
disorders. New York, NY US: Guilford Press.
Weiss, A., Bates, T. C., & Luciano, M. (2008). Happiness is a personal(ity)
thing: The genetics of personality and well-being in a representative
sample. Psychological Science, 19, 205-210. doi:10.1111/j.14679280.2008.02068.x
Conclusion
We found one-third of genetic variation in SWB is distinctive from the genetic variation in
personality. Thus, psychologists should be wary of labeling well-being a “personality thing.”
Well-being and personality are best construed as members of the same family.
‣ The single latent personality factor had strong positive loadings
on Extraversion, followed by Agreeableness and Openness, and a
weaker negative loading on Neuroticism.
‣ Of the total heritability of SWB (i.e., 72%), 70% was shared with
personality and 30% was unique to SWB. Individual-specific
environmental effects accounted for 28% of the variance in
SWB, of which 57% was shared with personality traits and 43%
was unique to SWB.