Self-Esteem, Personal Control, Optimism, Extraversion, and (PDF)

Andrews University Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 1999 Self-Esteem, Personal Control, Optimism, Extraversion, and the Self-Esteem, Personal Control, Optimism, Extraversion, and the Subjective Well-Being of Midwestern University Faculty Subjective Well-Being of Midwestern University Faculty Shawn Lee Zimmerman Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Education Commons, Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons, and the Personality and Social Contexts Commons Recommended Citation Recommended Citation Zimmerman, Shawn Lee, "Self-Esteem, Personal Control, Optimism, Extraversion, and the Subjective Well- Being of Midwestern University Faculty" (1999). 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Higher quality 6” x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. Bell & Howell Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.  Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.  Andrews University School of Education SELF-ESTEEM, PERSONAL CONTROL, OPTIMISM, EXTRA VERSION, AND THE SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING OF MIDWESTERN UNIVERSITY FACULTY A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Shawn Lee Zimmerman July 1999 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.  UMI Number: 9937630 UMI Microform 9937630 Copyright 1999, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.  SELF-ESTEEM, PERSONAL CONTROL, OPTIMISM, EXTRA VERSION, AND THE SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING OF MIDWESTERN UNIVERSITY FACULTY A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy by Shawn Lee Zimmerman APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: Chair: Elsie P. Jackson, Ph.D. Member:/Elvin Gabriel, Ed.D. Gradu ;ram Director Dean, Sch6ol ofrEducation Date Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.  ABSTRACT SELF-ESTEEM, PERSONAL CONTROL, OPTIMISM. EXTRA VERSION, AND THE SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING OF MIDWESTERN UNIVERSITY FACULTY by Shawn Lee Zimmerman Chair: Elsie Jackson Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.  ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University School of Education Title: SELF-ESTEEM, PERSONAL CONTROL, OPTIMISM, EXTRA VERSION, .AND THE SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING OF MIDWESTERN UNIVERSITY FACULTY Name of researcher: Shawn Lee Zimmerman Name and degree of faculty chair: Elsie Jackson, Ph D Date completed: July 1999 Problem and Purpose Although recent summaries of subjective well-being have illuminated four primary covariants, little research has been done that addresses the interaction and combined effects of these variables, limiting the development of theory and practice, especially in the population of university faculty. This research sought to address the interaction of self­ esteem, personal control, optimism, and extraversion when measured together, and how they combine in relation to subjective well-being in a sample of Midwestern university faculty. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.  Methodology A total of 233 surveys was collected from two Midwestern university faculty populations. These surveys measured self-esteem, personal control, optimism, extraversion, subjective well-being, and several demographics. Each of these variables was analyzed using multiple regression in regard to the measure of subjective well-being. Findings Subjective well-being correlated significantly with self-esteem, a sense of personal control, and optimism, but not extraversion when measured individually When measured together, self-esteem, a sense of personal control, and optimism were significantly correlated with subjective well-being, whereas extraversion was not significantly correlated multivariateiy Each of the variables self-esteem, personal control, optimism, and extraversion showed significant intercorrelations. When marital satisfaction and level of instruction were added to form a model in addition to the primary variables, just under 50% of the subjective well-being variance was accounted for among married faculty members. Adding marital status and instructional level to the primary variables accounted for 36% of subjective well-being variance. Conclusions Univariately, self-esteem, optimism, and personal control shared significant variance with subjective well-being. Multivariateiy, marital satisfaction and self-esteem shared the largest relative variance with subjective well-being. Optimism, personal control, and instructing at only one level also shared significant variance with subjective well-being multivariateiy. Although extraversion has shown substantial correlations with Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.  subjective well-being in other studies, it appears to be suspect in this research and may be population specific. The moderate intercorrelations between the variables show that the variables self-esteem, optimism, personal control, and extraversion do not additively relate to subjective well-being. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.  To Jesus the author of abundant life. To my wife Joylin, the love that cheers happiness. And to Amber Rose, a child of the King. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.  TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................... vi Chapter I. INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem...........................................................................................4 Purpose of the S tu d y ..................................................................................................5 Research Q uestions....................................................................................................6 Significance of the Study ........................................................................................... 7 Delimitations of the Study .......................................................................................8 Limitations of the Study ........................................................................................... 8 Assumptions ............................................................................................................. 8 Definition of Terms ....................................................................................................9 Organization of Study ..............................................................................................10 II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE .............................................................................11 Introduction................................................................................................................11 Subjective Well-Being ........................................................................................... 13 Subjective Well-Being Measures .......................................................................... 15 Self-esteem ............................................................................................................... 21 Personal Control ...................................................................................................... 29 Optimism....................................................................................................................35 Extraversion............................................................................................................... 41 Multiple Factor Studies ........................................................................................... 50 III. METHODOLOGY .......................................................................................................57 Type of Research.......................................................................................................57 Population and Sample..............................................................................................57 Procedures..................................................................................................................58 Instrumentation .........................................................................................................60 Short Happiness and Affect Research Protocol ...............................................61 Satisfaction With Life Scale ..............................................................................65 Subjective Well-Being......................................................................................... 68 Self-Esteem S cale................................................................................................68 iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.  Intemality, Powerful Others, and Chance Scales .............................................70 Life Orientation T e st........................................................................................... 72 Eysenck Personality Questionnaire ...................................................................75 Null Hypotheses and Statistical Analysis.................................................................77 IV FINDINGS....................................................................................................................79 Purpose ....................................................................................................................79 Description of the Setting......................................................................................... 80 Procedures..................................................................................................................81 Demographics ...........................................................................................................83 Subjective Well-Being ..............................................................................................86 Instrument Analysis.................................................................................................. 91 Testing the Hypotheses ........................................................................................... 92 Best Model Analyses ................................................................................................97 Summary............................................................................................................... 101 V FINDINGS. CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS 105 Introduction........................................................................................................... 105 Summary ............................................................................................................. 105 Problem ......................................................................................................... 105 Purpose............................................................................................................. 105 Methodology .................................................................................................. 106 Findings ..............................................................................................................107 Research Question 1 .................................................................................. 109 Research Question 2 .................................................................................. 109 Research Question 3 .................................................................................. 110 Research Question 4 .................................................................................. 110 Research Question 5 .................................................................................. 110 Research Question 6 .................................................................................. 11! Interpretations and Conclusions......................................................................... 112 Recommendations for Further Study ................................................................. 118 Appendix A. CONSENT FORMS .................................................................................... 120 B SURVEY ...................................................................................................... 124 C DA TA ............................................................................................................ 129 REFERENCE L IS T ......................................................................................................... 139 V IT A ................................................................................................................................. 149 v Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.  LIST OF TABLES 1. Gender, Age, And Ethnicity Demographics .............................................................84 2. Marital Demographics ................................................................................................ 85 3. Instructional Level And University Demographics ..................................................86 4. Demographics And Mean Subjective Well-being Scores.........................................87 5. Scale Item .Analysis .....................................................................................................91 6. Correlations And Intercorrelations............................................................................94 7. Primary Independent Variables, Standardized Betas, And Significance Levels ...................................................97 8. Best Model A Variables, Standardized Betas, And Significance L evels............................................... 100 9. Best Model B Variables, Standardized Betas, And Significance Levels ............................................... 100 vi Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.