Personality and life satisfaction in middle school students

Abstract

Objective The aim of the study was to identify the personality types of middle school students and its association with life satisfaction, and to provide a reference for improving personality and mental health of middle school students.

Methods A total of 1 409 students randomly selected form 4 middle schools of a rural area in Wuhan city by cluster stratified sampling method were taken as the object of the research. Adolescents completed the Chinese version of NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify personality types. ANOVA analyses were used to explore the associations between personality types and life satisfaction.

Results Three profiles were identified: resilient (5.32%), overcontrolled (32.86%) and undercontrolled (61.82%), the differences were of statistical significance ( P<0.05). Resilient adolescents had the highest scores ( M =5.10, SD = 1.34) whereas undercontrolled had the lowest scores ( M =3.66, SD = 1.09) on life satisfaction.

Conclusion Schools, families and society should pay attention to the high proportion of overcontrolled and undercontrolled in middle school students and take actions to promote the positive development of personality and mental health.

Abstract

【摘要】 目的 探讨中学生的人格类型及其与生活满意度的关系, 为促进中学生人格发展和心理健康提供参考依 据。 方法 采用整群随机抽样方法抽取武汉市某郊区 4 所中学 1 409 名中学生为对象, 采用大五人格问卷及生活满意度 量表进行调査, 对数据主要进行潜在剖面分析及单因素方差分析。 结果 中学生的人格类型分为心理弹性型 (5.32%)、过 度控制型 (32.86%) 和不受控制型 (61.82%), 不同人格类型中学生大五人格各维度得分差异均有统计学意义 ( P 值均< 0.05)。生活满意度水平最髙的是心理弹性型 (5.10±1.34), 其次是过度控制型 (4.22±1.13) 与不受控制型 (3.66±1.09)。 结论 学校、家庭和社会应关注中学生中髙比例存在的过度控制者、不受控制者, 促进中学生人格的积极完善和发展, 提升心 理健康水平。