Big Five Personality as Predictor of Life Satisfaction among Scheduled Caste Working and Non-Working Women

Abstract

Present study deals with the relationship between Big five personality traits and life satisfaction of Scheduled Caste working women and non-working women, with an emphasis on understanding the role of personality traits on overall wellbeing. The study used the descriptive correlational research design with total sample of 300 Scheduled Caste women whereof 150 women were working and 150 women were non-working. The Big Five personality dimensions (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness to experience) were being assessed in connection to mental, job, social, marital, family and overall life satisfaction. Data were collected by using suitable standardized tools and the data collected were analysed by the descriptive statistics and by using Pearson’s coefficient of correlation. Results indicated that there was overall a higher life satisfaction and more favourable personality characteristics in working women as compared to non-working women. Different facets of life satisfaction were positively correlated to extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experience in both groups, while neuroticism was negatively correlated with life satisfaction in all groups. In the positive personality dimensions conscientiousness was the most salient correlate of overall life satisfaction for working and non-working women. The results also showed that emotional stability, sociability, responsibility, interpersonal harmony and openness to new experiences are significant psychological traits related to positive life evaluations. Overall, the study finds that employment and socioeconomic factors as well as individual personality factors are determinants of the life satisfaction of Scheduled Caste women. The results have implications in counseling, women empowerment programmes, psychological interventions and community-based programmes for strengthening emotional adjustment and self-confidence of SC women along with adaptive personality characteristics and overall well-being.