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Dissertations Graduate Research
1999
Self-Esteem, Personal Control, Optimism, Extraversion, and the
Subjective Well-Being of Midwestern University Faculty
Shawn Lee Zimmerman
Andrews University
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Recommended Citation
Zimmerman, Shawn Lee, "Self-Esteem, Personal Control, Optimism, Extraversion, and the Subjective Well-
Being of Midwestern University Faculty" (1999). Dissertations. 1570.
https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/1570
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Andrews University
School o f 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 o f Philosophy
by
Shawn Lee Zimmerman
July 1999
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UMI Number: 9937630
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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. Gradu ;ram Director
Dean, Sch6ol ofrEducation
Member:/Elvin Gabriel, Ed.D. Date
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ABSTRACT
SELF-ESTEEM, PERSONAL CONTROL, OPTIMISM. EXTRA VERSION,
AND THE SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING OF MIDWESTERN
UNIVERSITY FACULTY
by
Shawn Lee Zimmerman
Chair: Elsie Jackson
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ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH
Dissertation
Andrews University
School o f 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.
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Methodology
A total o f 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 o f these variables
was analyzed using multiple regression in regard to the measure o f subjective well-being.
Findings
Subjective well-being correlated significantly with self-esteem, a sense o f 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 o f 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
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