Personality and Psychological Well-Being: A Comprehensive Review of Theoretical Frameworks, Empirical Evidence, and Future Directions

Abstract

The interplay between personality and psychological well-being has emerged as one of the most consequential areas of inquiry in contemporary psychological science. This comprehensive review paper examines the multifaceted relationship between enduring personality dispositions and the subjective and objective dimensions of psychological well-being. Drawing upon a wide range of theoretical traditions—including psychoanalytic theory, trait psychology, humanistic frameworks, and the positive psychology movement—this paper synthesizes decades of empirical research to elucidate how stable personality characteristics shape mental health outcomes, emotional regulation, life satisfaction, resilience, and overall quality of life. The Five Factor Model of personality (encompassing openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism) serves as the primary taxonomic framework, supplemented by analyses of additional personality constructs such as optimism, self-esteem, locus of control, and the Dark Triad traits. The review further integrates Carol Ryff’s multidimensional model of psychological well-being and Martin Seligman’s PERMA framework to provide a holistic understanding of the construct. Moderating and mediating factors— including culture, gender, age, socioeconomic status, and environmental context—are examined in detail. Methodological considerations in the field are critically assessed, and emerging trends including digital phenotyping and neurobiological integration are discussed. The paper concludes by discussing implications for clinical practice, educational programming, and preventive mental health strategies, while identifying critical gaps in the existing literature and proposing directions for future longitudinal, cross-cultural, and neurobiological research.