Self- and peer-rated character strengths: How do they relate to satisfaction with life and orientations to happiness?

Abstract

This paper addresses the question as to whether previously reported findings on a positive relation between character strengths, satisfaction with life, and orientations to happiness (OTH) can be replicated for peer ratings of character strengths. A sample of 334 Swiss adults completed questionnaires and collected informant ratings by 634 peers. Self- and peer ratings converged well and suggest that, primarily: the strengths of hope, zest, and curiosity – but also gratitude and love – play key roles in the interplay of strengths and satisfaction with life. Peer ratings of strengths also related positively with the endorsement of a pleasurable, engaged, and meaningful life. Further analyses show that the OTH predict satisfaction with life beyond self- and peer-rated character strengths. There, the engaged life (i.e. endorsement of flow) was most relevant. This study supports earlier findings that argue for an important role of character strengths when describing the well-being of a person.

Keywords:

• character strengths
• life satisfaction
• self- and peer-ratings
• VIA
• well-being

Acknowledgments

Data collection was supported by a research grant from the University of Zurich (FK 56231101) and the Suzanne and Hans Biäsch Foundation for Applied Psychology. The completion of the paper has been supported by a grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation awarded to RTP and WR (SNSF; 100014_132512). All authors contributed equally to this study and were listed alphabetically. The authors are grateful to Dr. Frank A. Rodden for proofreading the manuscript.