Personality and happiness: Is mental health a mediator?

A general measure of happiness of the Chinese people was developed based on results from a qualitative research done with Chinese people in Taiwan, as well as translating items from a well-established Western instrument. Using systematic random sampling, 191 community residents in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, completed measures of extraversion, neuroticism, social desirability, mental symptoms and happiness. LISREL analysis showed there was a positive direct relation between extraversion and happiness; both a negative direct relation between neuroticism and happiness, and an indirect one through symptoms; both a positive direct relations between social desirability and happiness, and an indirect one through symptoms; whereas there was a negative direct relation between symptoms and happiness.