Search

BACKGROUND The relation of positive orientation (a basic predisposition to think positively of oneself, one’s life and one’s future) and personality traits is still disputable. The purpose of the described research was to verify the hypothesis that positive orientation has predictive efficiency beyond the five-factor model. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE One hundred and thirty participants (at the mean age M = 24.84) completed the following questionnaires: the Self-Esteem Scale (SES), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R), the Positivity Scale (P-SCALE), the NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), the Self-Concept Clarity Scale (SCC), the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) and the Life Engagement Test (LET). RESULTS The introduction of positive orientation as an additional predictor in the second step of regression analyses led to better prediction of the following variables: purpose in life, self-concept clarity and generalized self-efficacy. This effect was the strongest for predicting purpose in life (i.e. 14% increment of the explained variance). CONCLUSIONS The results confirmed our hypothesis that positive orientation can be characterized by incremental validity – its inclusion in the regression model (in addition to the five main factors of personality) increases the amount of explained variance. These findings may provide further evidence for the legitimacy of measuring positive orientation and personality traits separately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

background: Positive orientation (PO) is a hidden variable explaining a tendency to formulate global evaluations regarding one's self, life and the future. It is inherited to a large degree and it could be considered a common base for numerous aspects of subjective well-being. The self-concept, in turn, is a basic adaptation formed during individual experiences that is responsible for adjustment. The primary aim of the current study was to verify hypotheses about the significant relationship between PO and a "core self" (high self-concept clarity, low self-esteem contingency, low self-rumination), as well as the meditational role of the "core self" in the relation between PO and hedonic balance. participants and procedure: A group of 200 participants completed several measures referring to PO, self-concept and emotions. results: The canonical correlation analysis revealed PO to be a strong predictor of the adaptive features of the self-concept. Moreover, the tested models suggest that (1) self-concept clarity is a significant mediator between PO and hedonic balance, and (2) PO directly predicts only self-concept clarity, whereas its relations with self-esteem contingency and rumination are mediated by the self-knowledge structure. conclusions: These findings indicate that PO is an important and independent factor enhancing adaptive features of the self-concept structure as well as well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]