An exploration of personality–affect relations in daily life: Determining the support for the affect-level and affect-reactivity views

The two strongest predictors of affect are extraversion and neuroticism. Previous research has demonstrated the extraversion-positive affect and neuroticism-negative affect relations are both strong and positively correlated. To explain these relations, researchers have hypothesized two extensions of the temperament model: the affect-level and affect-reactivity hypotheses of well-being. We used retrospective diaries to examine the support for these hypotheses and, across all three studies, we found strong support for the affect-level model – that is, extraversion predicted a consistent increase in positive affect, neuroticism tended to predict a consistent increase in negative affect. Further, these paths were significant even after controlling for the normative enjoyment and stressfulness of daily activities. In the discussion we describe how these relations provide support for the affect-level model of well-being.

► Using retrospective diaries we tested the affect-level and affect-reactivity models. ► We controlled for normative daily enjoyment and stress. ► Extraversion predicted daily positive emotions regardless of the normative enjoyment. ► Neuroticism predicted daily negative emotions regardless of the normative stress. ► Across three studies, these models support the affect-level model of well-being.