Personality traits are associated with well-being and satisfaction in
life after work
As we experience the Great Resignation, new findings could inform efforts
to support older adults after retirement
Date:
March 30, 2022
Source:
PLOS
Summary:
A new study has identified novel associations between older adults'
personality traits, the routes they took to leave their jobs,
and their well-being after exiting the workforce.
FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A new study has identified novel associations between older adults'
personality traits, the routes they took to leave their jobs, and their well-being after exiting the workforce. Dusanee Kesavayuth of Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand, and colleagues present these findings
in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on March 30, 2022.
==========================================================================
As the world's population of older adults grows, communities and policy
makers are increasingly interested in the well-being of those leaving
the labor market. Researchers have begun to explore how different exit
paths -- mandatory retirement versus voluntary retirement, for instance
-- may be associated with subsequent life satisfaction. But few studies
have addressed how such associations may vary depending on people's
personality traits.
To help clarify, Kesavayuth and colleagues analyzed data from more than
2,000 adults aged 50 to 75 who participated in the British Household
Panel Survey.
The dataset included assessment of participants' "Big Five" personality
traits -- a standard evaluation of personality -- and subsequent life satisfaction after participants left their jobs, whether voluntarily or
not, without plans to begin working again.
Statistical analysis of the data uncovered associations between the
routes people took to exit their jobs and their subsequent satisfaction
with life, income, and leisure. However, these associations did indeed
vary according to their personality traits.
For example, the trait of conscientiousness was linked to increased satisfaction with leisure time for older adults who underwent mandatory retirement, and to increased life satisfaction for people who became unemployed. The authors suggest that conscientiousness might act as
a "psychological buffer," with conscientious individuals being more
proactive in finding new fulfilling life patterns.
Among people who retired early, extraversion was linked to lower
satisfaction with life, income, and leisure. However, for people who
stopped working due to ill health or caregiving demands, extraversion was linked to higher satisfaction with leisure time. The authors speculate
that extraverts might miss social relationships at work, but might also
be motivated to find sociable, rewarding hobbies.
Associations were also found for the traits of agreeableness,
openness, and neuroticism. These associations do not confirm any causal relationships between the various factors, and proposed explanations
can only be speculative at this stage. However, the findings could
help guide targeted interventions and policies to boost the well-being
of aging adults. Such efforts could be especially relevant during the
current mass exodus of workers from the labor force in the context of
the COVID-19 pandemic.
The authors add: "Our study uncovered associations between the routes
people took to exit their jobs and their subsequent satisfaction with
life, income, and leisure. These associations varied according to people's personality traits. Conscientious individuals were more proactive in
finding new fulfilling life patterns."
========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by PLOS. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.
========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Dusanee Kesavayuth, Robert E. Rosenman, Vasileios Zikos. Leaving the
labor market: Exit routes, personality traits and well-being. PLOS
ONE, 2022; 17 (3): e0263670 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263670 ==========================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220330141408.htm
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