Family experiences while growing up, personality traits, and well-being: A mediation analysis

Abstract

This study examines how early-life family experiences are associated with adult well-being (subjective, eudaimonic social, and eudaimonic personal well-being) and the role of personality traits in this process. Using data from 202,898 respondents across 22 countries in the Global Flourishing Study (representative samples, cross-sectional data), we find that positive family experiences predict higher well-being and foster traits such as extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and emotional stability, but not openness. These four traits positively predict all well-being types, while openness is linked only to personal well-being and shows no association with subjective well-being and a weak negative link to social well-being. Our results show that personality traits (excluding openness) partially explain how early-life family experiences are associated with adult well-being. Additionally, growing up with married parents is linked to higher social well-being, a relationship fully mediated by personality traits except for extraversion. These findings underscore the possibly lasting impact of early-life family environments on well-being in adulthood, with personality traits acting as key mechanisms. While supportive family backgrounds contribute to well-being through personality development, fostering these traits in individuals from less favorable backgrounds may promote well-being and personal growth. Understanding these associations can inform policies and interventions that help individuals flourish.