Self-compassion and emotional recovery in the relationship between neuroticism and subjective well-being

Abstract

Studies have consistently found the neuroticism personality trait to be related to lowered subjective well-being. Previous research has also found neuroticism to be related to lower self-compassion and slower recovery from emotionally stressful reactions. This study examines whether neuroticism and subjective well-being are negatively related, via the correlational sequence, from higher neuroticism to lower self-compassion, from lower self-compassion to slower emotional recovery, and from slower emotional recovery to lower subjective well-being. The present sample (N = 284) completed measures of these variables, and the responses were analyzed within a serial multiple regression model. While the analyses confirmed the hypothesis on the correlational sequence, the evidence for self-compassion as the sole intermediate variable (i.e., without considering emotional recovery) was stronger. The paper includes a discussion of whether a methodological reason underlies the present minor role of emotional recovery in the correlational sequence. A differentiated look at the data suggests that relatively low self-compassion and, potentially, slow emotional recovery are decisive factors for decreased life satisfaction and positive affect among those who are high in neuroticism. As a practical implication, existing self-compassion interventions may be a promising path for people who are high in neuroticism to improve their subjective well-being.