U.S. State Resident Big Five Personality and Work Satisfaction: The Importance of Neuroticism

Abstract

Two studies determined relations between state resident Big Five personality scores and state work satisfaction for the 50 states in the United States. Study 1 and 2 personality profiles were based on responses of 619,397 residents to the 44-item Big Five Inventory. For Studies 1 and 2, state work satisfaction scores were respectively taken from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index based on 353,039 phone interviews in 2008 and on 353,564 in 2012. Higher neuroticism was associated with lower work satisfaction (r = −.49, p < .001) in both studies despite negative recession impacts in Study 2. In Study 1, the robust relation persisted with state socioeconomic status, percent of White population identified in the census, urban population percent, unemployment rate, economic conservatism, income inequality, and political conservatism controlled. In Study 2, the relation persisted while controlling for peak-recession and end-of-recession unemployment rates, 2010-2011 GDP growth, and the other corresponding control variables of Study 1.