Investing in normative, age-graded social roles has broad
implications for both the individual and society. The current
meta-analysis examines the way in which personality traits relate
to four such investments— work, family, religion, and volunteerism.
The present study uses meta-analytic techniques (K = 94) to
identify the cross-sectional patterns of relationships between
social investment in these four roles and the personality trait
domains of agreeableness, conscientiousness, and emotional
stability. Results show that the extent of investment in social
roles across these domains is positively related to agreeableness,
conscientiousness, emotional stability, and low psychoticism. These
findings are more robust when individuals are psychologically
committed to rather than simply demographically associated with the
investment role.
relationship between social investment and the personality traits
of agreeableness, conscientiousness, and emotional stability ;
social investments in work and family positively related to
conscientiousness, agreeableness, and emotional stability ; social
investment in religion positively related to agreeableness and
socialization
lack of research relating social investment to personality traits
in major journals ; important facet of psychological experience is
being neglected (health, well-being, longevity, society at large)
definition of the concept of social investment = the investment in
and commitment to adult social roles ; psychological commitment to
these roles is associated with the personality trait domains of
agreeableness, conscientiousness, and emotional stability
