Predicting general well-being from self-esteem and affectivity: an exploratory study with Scottish adolescents

The present study investigated the association between the personality constructs of self-esteem/affectivity and General Well-Being (GWB) in Scottish adolescents. A total of 425 secondary school pupils completed the P.G.I. General Well-Being Scale [Verma et al. Ind J. Clin. Psychol. 10 (1983) 299], the Hare Self-esteem Scale (HSES) [Hare, The Hare General and Area-Specific (School, Peer, and Home) Self-esteem Scale. Unpublished manuscript, Department of Sociology, SUNY Stony Brook, New York, mineo, 1985] and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) [Watson et al. J Personal Soc Psychol 54 (1988a) 1063]. Combined self-esteem, positive and negative affectivity, age and gender accounted for 49.7% of the total GWB variance, 24.9% of the physical well-being variance, 41.6% of the mood/affect well-being variance, 33.3% of the anxiety well-being variance and 44.3% of the self/others well-being variance. Home self-esteem was found the strongest predictor of mood/affect and self/others well-being domains as well as well-being total. It was also the second best predictor of anxiety well-being domain. School self-esteem was the strongest predictor of physical well-being, whereas negative affectivity was the strongest predictor of anxiety well-being domain. However age and gender were not significantly associated with GWB, total or domain specific. The study adds to previous evidence regarding the high association between GWB and personality factors in adult and adolescent populations. Directions for future research are discussed.