Abstract
Previous studies have shown that personality types may lead to different health status. The current study aims to refine a previous typological profile of strength using a heterogeneous sample (N = 5776) and clarify further the associations between strength profiles and mental wellbeing (e.g., flourishing), mental illbeing (e.g., depression, anxiety, and stress), strength knowledge, and strength use. Latent profile analysis was implemented to distinguish subgroups on the basis of the three-dimensional inventory of character strengths (e.g., self-control, inquisitiveness, and caring). Results refined previous findings and indicated three specific profiles, namely, Strength, Common, and Risk Groups. The Strength Group scored relatively high on self-control and inquisitiveness but low on caring; the Common Group scored relatively high on caring; and the Risk Group had relatively high scores on self-control. As expected, the Strength Group had the highest strength knowledge and strength use, whereas the Risk Group had the least strength knowledge and strength use. The three proposed profiles have significant differences of anxiety, stress, and flourishing; however, the difference of depression between the Strength and Risk Groups was insignificant compared with the Common Group. This study can be helpful in refining strength typologies for future effective strength-based interventions.
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Duan, W., Qi, B., Sheng, J. et al. Latent Character Strength Profile and Grouping Effects. Soc Indic Res 147, 345–359 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-019-02105-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-019-02105-z