Individual characteristics, cultural or social background, and present circumstances all influence the elements considered significant in an individual's self-evaluation of life happiness. These factors interact in complex ways, making life satisfaction a deeply personal and contextual experience.
Objective
This study examined the mediating influence of work-family conflict on the impact of dark triad personality traits on the life satisfaction of academicians employed in higher education institutions.
Methods
Data were collected by reaching 496 academicians from different disciplines through an electronic survey method. The concepts of life satisfaction, dark triad personality traits, and work-family conflict, as well as the relationships between the concepts, were examined. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), correlation, and regression analysis were applied to analyze the data set obtained. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used for the mediation test and path analysis.
Results
The findings of the study indicate that work-family conflict serves as a partial statistical mediator (p < 0.05, β = 0.112) in the relationship between dark triad personality traits and life satisfaction. Dark triad personality traits affect life satisfaction negatively (p < 0.05, β = −0.196) and work-family conflict positively (p < 0.05, β = 0.470).
Conclusion
The findings revealed that work-family conflict mediated the relationship between the dark triad traits and life satisfaction by reducing the negative effects of these traits. Stated differently, those with the dark triad personality traits report lower levels of life satisfaction; however, this decline is mitigated when the person also experiences work-family conflict.
SarisWVeenhovenRScherpenzeelAC, et al.Comparative study of Europe. Budapest, Hungary: Erasmus University Pres, 1996.
2.
CheungHYChanAW. The effect of education on life satisfaction across countries. Alberta J Educ Res2009; 55: 124–136.
3.
GongCCassellsRKeeganM. Understanding life satisfaction and the education puzzle in Australia: A profile from HILDA Wave 9. NATSEM Working Paper No. 11/12. Canberra, ACT: University of Canberra, 2011.
4.
ProtoERustichiniA. A reassessment of the relationship between GDP and life satisfaction. PloS One2013; 8: e79358.
5.
SchwarzNStrackF. Reports of subjective well-being: judgmental processes and their methodological implications. Well-being: The Foundations of Hedonic Psychology1999; 7: 61–84.
6.
NickersonCSchwarzNDienerEGallup Organization. Financial aspirations, financial success, and overall life satisfaction: who? And how?J Happiness Stud2007; 8: 467–515.
7.
DienerEDienerMDienerC. Factors predicting the subjective well-being of nations. J Pers Soc Psychol1995; 69: 851–864.
8.
OishiSDienerELucasRE, et al.Cross-cultural variations in predictors of life satisfaction: perspectives from needs and values. Culture and Well-Being: The Collected Works of Ed Diener2009; 25: 109–127.
DienerEDEmmonsRALarsenRJ, et al.The satisfaction with life scale. J Pers Assess1985; 49: 71–75.
11.
VeenhovenR. Questions on happiness. In: StrackFArgyleMSchwarzN (eds) Subjective wellbeing. An interdisciplinary perspective. London: Pergamon Press, 1991, pp.7–26.
12.
DienerE. Review of the satisfaction with life scale. Psychol Assess1993; 5: 164–172.
13.
Biswas-DienerRVittersøJDienerE. Most people are pretty happy, but there is cultural variation: the Inughuit, the Amish, and the Maasai. J Happiness Stud2005; 6: 205–226.
14.
VeenhovenR. The study of life satisfaction. In: A comparative study of satisfaction with life in Europe. Budapest: Eötvös University Press, 1996, pp.11–48.
15.
BallRERobbinsL. Marital status and life satisfaction among black Americans. J Marriage Fam1986; 48: 389–394.
16.
WornerSM. I just want to get married–I don’t care to who! marriage, life satisfaction and educational differences in Australian couples. In: HILDA Conference, 2007, pp.1–36.
17.
NicklinJMMcNallLA. Work-family enrichment, support and satisfaction: a test of mediation. European J Work Organiz Psychol2013; 22: 67–67.
18.
TreistmanDL. Work-family conflict and life satisfaction in female graduate students: Testing mediating and moderating hypotheses. College Park: University of Maryland, 2004.
19.
Mesmer-MagnusJRViswesvaranC. The role of the coworker in reducing work-family conflict: a review and directions for future research. Pratiques Psychologiques2009; 15: 213–224.
20.
MullenJKelleyEKellowayEK. Health and well-being outcomes of the work-family interface. In: KorabikKLeroDSWhiteheadDL (eds) Handbook of work-family integration: research, theory, and best practices. Canada: Academic, 2008, pp.191–214.
21.
ZhangJLiuY. Antecedents of work-family conflict: review and prospect. Int J Business Manag2011; 6: 89–103.
22.
GoodeWJ. A theory of role strain. Am Sociol Rev1960; 25: 483–496.
23.
KahnRLWolfeDMQuinnRP, et al.Organizational stress: Studies in role conflict and ambiguity. Oxford: Wiley, 1964.
24.
FordMTHeinenBALangkamerKL. Work and family satisfaction and conflict: a meta-analysis of cross-domain relations. J Appl Psychol2007; 92: 57–80.
25.
AmstadFTMeierLLFaselU, et al.A meta-analysis of work–family conflict and various outcomes with a special emphasis on cross-domain versus matching-domain relations. J Occup Health Psychol2011; 16: 151–169.
26.
PerrewéPLHochwarterWAKiewitzC. Value attainment: an explanation for the negative effects of work–family conflict on job and life satisfaction. J Occup Health Psychol1999; 4: 318–326.
27.
AryeeSSrinivasESTanHH. Rhythms of life: antecedents and outcomes of work-family balance in employed parents. J Appl Psychol2005; 90: 132–146.
28.
VoydanoffP. The differential salience of family and community demands and resources for family-to-work conflict and facilitation. J Fam Econ Issues2005; 26: 395–417.
29.
CardenasRAMajorDABernasKH. Exploring work and family distractions: antecedents and outcomes. Int J Stress Manag2004; 11: 346–365.
30.
AryeeSLukVLeungA, et al.Role stressors, interrole conflict, and well-being: the moderating influence of spousal support and coping behaviors among employed parents in Hong Kong. J Vocat Behav1999; 54: 259–278.
31.
KellowayEKGottliebBHBarhamL. The source, nature, and direction of work and family conflict: a longitudinal investigation. J Occup Health Psychol1999; 4: 337–346.
32.
AllenTDHerstDEBruckCS, et al.Consequences associated with work-to-family conflict: a review and agenda for future research. J Occup Health Psychol2000; 5: 278–308.
33.
FroneMR. Work-family balance. In: CampbellJTetrickLE (eds) Handbook of occupational health psychology. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2003, pp.143–162.
34.
GrzywaczJGMarksNF. Reconceptualizing the work–family interface: an ecological perspective on the correlates of positive and negative spillover between work and family. J Occup Health Psychol2000; 5: 111–126.
35.
BurkeRJGreenglassER. Work–family conflict, spouse support, and nursing staff well-being during organizational restructuring. J Occup Health Psychol1999; 4: 327–336.
36.
NetemeyerRGBolesJSMcMurrianR. Development and validation of work–family conflict and family–work conflict scales. Journal of Applied Psychology1996; 81: 400–410.
37.
GeurtsSAKompierMARoxburghS, et al.Does work–home interference mediate the relationship between workload and well-being?J Vocat Behav2003; 63: 532–559.
38.
GooginsBBurdenD. Vulnerability of working parents: balancing work and home roles. Soc Work1987; 32: 295–300.
39.
KossekEEOzekiC. Bridging the work-family policy and productivity gap: a literature review. Community Work Fam1999; 2: 7–32.
40.
WarrP. Work, happiness, and unhappiness. Mahwah: Psychology Press, Erlbaum, 2011.
41.
ProctorCLinleyPAMaltbyJ. Very happy youths: benefits of very high life satisfaction among adolescents. Soc Indic Res2010; 98: 519–532.
42.
SuldoSMHuebnerES. Does life satisfaction moderate the effects of stressful life events on psychopathological behavior during adolescence?Sch Psychol Q2004; 19: 93–105.
43.
DemirbilekS. Cinsiyet ayrımcılığının sosyolojik açıdan incelenmesi. Finans Politik & Ekonomik Yorumlar2007; 44: 12–27.
44.
JonasonPKKrauseL. The emotional deficits associated with the Dark Triad traits: cognitive empathy, affective empathy, and alexithymia. Pers Individ Dif2013; 55: 532–537.
45.
BaughmanHMJonasonPKLyonsM, et al.Liar liar pants on fire: cheater strategies linked to the Dark Triad. Pers Individ Dif2014; 71: 35–38.
46.
JonesDNPaulhusDL. Introducing the short dark triad (SD3) a brief measure of dark personality traits. Assessment2014; 21: 28–41.
47.
DarshiniDOngCYWeiSL, et al.Relationship between dark triad and life satisfaction among emerging adults. Evaluation Studies in Social Sciences2021; 2: 39–43.
48.
GroverHK. The upside to the dark side: An empirical investigation into the moderators and mediators of the Dark Triad and work related outcomes. Doctoral dissertation, UCL, University College, London, 2018.
49.
GiammarcoEAVernonPA. Vengeance and the Dark Triad: the role of empathy and perspective taking in trait forgivingness. Pers Individ Dif2014; 67: 23–29.
50.
RobinsRWBeerJS. Positive illusions about the self: short-term benefits and long-term costs. J Pers Soc Psychol2001; 80: 340–352.
51.
JonasonPKWeeSLiNP. Competition, autonomy, and prestige: mechanisms through which the Dark Triad predict job satisfaction. Pers Individ Dif2015; 72: 112–116.
52.
GonzalezJMGreitemeyerT. The relationship between everyday sadism, violent video game play, and fascination with weapons. Pers Individ Dif2018; 124: 51–53.
53.
SpurkDKellerACHirschiA. Do bad guys get ahead or fall behind? Relationships of the dark triad of personality with objective and subjective career success. Soc Psychol Personal Sci2016; 7: 113–121.
54.
MathieuCBabiakP. Corporate psychopathy and abusive supervision: their influence on employees’ job satisfaction and turnover intentions. Pers Individ Dif2016; 91: 102–106.
55.
VolmerJKochIKGöritzAS. The bright and dark sides of leaders’ dark triad traits: effects on subordinates’ career success and well-being. Pers Individ Dif2016; 101: 413–418.
56.
AghababaeiNBłachnioA. Well-being and the Dark Triad. Pers Individ Dif2015; 86: 365–368.
57.
Bonfá-AraujoBLima-CostaARBaptistaMN, et al.Depressed or satisfied? The relationship between the dark triad traits, depression, and life satisfaction. Curr Psychol2023; 42: 3520–3527.
58.
JeongJLeeJHJangY. Exploring the impact of leader narcissism on work-family dynamics and the shielding role of self-monitoring. Korean Rev Corporation Manag 2024; 15: 17–40.
59.
JiaCXCheungCKFuC. Work support, role stress, and life satisfaction among Chinese social workers: the mediation role of work-family conflict. Int J Environ Res Public Health2020; 17: 8881.
60.
AkramBBibiBAshfaq AhmedM, et al.Work-family conflict and suicidal ideation among physicians of Pakistan: the moderating role of perceived life satisfaction. OMEGA-J Death Dying2022; 85: 465–482.
61.
YuanTLiangLRenH, et al.Age moderates the effect of work-family conflict on life satisfaction among Chinese female employees: a propensity score matching method. Pers Individ Dif2022; 185: 111279.
62.
RupertPAStevanovicPHartmanERT, et al.Predicting work–family conflict and life satisfaction among professional psychologists. Professional Psychol: Res Pract2012; 43: 341.
63.
Taşdelen-KarçkayABakalımO. The mediating effect of work–life balance on the relationship between work–family conflict and life satisfaction. Australian J Career Dev2017; 26: 3–13.
64.
Higher Education Statistics (homepage on the Internet). Turkey: Higher Education Information Management System, Cited 2024 June 11. https://istatistik.yok.gov.tr/
65.
YaşlıoğluDTAtılganÖ. Karanlık üçlü ölçeği: türkçe’ye uyarlama, güvenilirlik ve geçerlilik çalışması. Mehmet Akif Ersoy Universitesi Iktisadi ve Idari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi2018; 5: 725–739.
66.
LavalleeLFHatchPMMichalosAC, et al.Development of the contentment with life assessment scale (CLAS): using daily life experiences to verify levels of self-reported life satisfaction. Soc Indic Res2007; 83: 201–244.
67.
EfeogluIE. İş-aile yaşam çatışmasının iş stresi, iş doyumu ve örgütsel bağlılık üzerindeki etkileri: İlaç sektöründe bir araştırma. PhD Thesis, University of Çukurova, Turkey, 2006.
68.
BaronRMKennyDA. The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. J Pers Soc Psychol1986; 51: 1173.
69.
MaJLiuGKwanMP, et al.Does real-time and perceived environmental exposure to air pollution and noise affect travel satisfaction? Evidence from Beijing, China. Travel Behav Soc2021; 24: 313–324.
70.
CohenJ. Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. 2nd ed. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1988.
71.
ChokkanathanSMohantyJ. Health, family strains, dependency, and life satisfaction of older adults. Arch Gerontol Geriatr2017; 71: 129–135.
72.
HuangHLiuSSharmaA, et al.Factors associated with life satisfaction among married women in rural China: a cross-sectional study based on large-scale samples. Psychol Res Behav Manag2018; 11: 525–533.
73.
MaCQHuebnerES. Attachment relationships and adolescents’ life satisfaction: some relationships matter more to girls than boys. Psychol Sch2008; 45: 177–190.
74.
PinquartMSörensenS. Gender differences in self-concept and psychological well-being in old age: a meta-analysis. J Gerontol Series B: Psychol Sci Soc Sci2001; 56: 195–213.
75.
GeorgeLK. Still happy after all these years: research frontiers on subjective well-being in later life. J Gerontol Series B: Psychol Sci Soc Sci2010; 65: 331–339.
76.
Özdemir AkgülS. Turizmde toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliği ve kadınların güçlendirilmesi ile mutluluk endeksi arasındaki ilişki. Turar Turizm ve Araştırma Dergisi2020; 9: 160–178.
77.
SavaşG. Türkiye’de yaşayan bireylerin toplumsal cinsiyet eşit(siz)liği algısı. Akdeniz Kadın Çalışmaları ve Toplumsal Cinsiyet Dergisi2018; 1: 101–121.
VincentA. Modern Politik İdeolojiler (Çev. A. Tüfekçi). İstanbul: Paradigma Yayınları, 2006.
80.
AkmanSU. Toplumsal cinsiyet eşitsizliği ve toplumsal baskı: türkiye istatistik kurumu yaşam memnuniyeti araştırması üzerine analizler. EKOIST Journal of Econometrics and Statistics2021; 35: 83–109.
81.
LuoY. Gender and job satisfaction in urban China: the role of individual, family, and job characteristics. Soc Indic Res2016; 125: 289–309.
82.
HayoBSeifertW. Subjective economic well-being in Eastern Europe. J Econ Psychol2003; 24: 329–348.
83.
DienerESuhEMLucasRE, et al.Subjective well-being: three decades of progress. Psychol Bull1999; 125: 276–302.
84.
PaulhusDLWilliamsKM. The dark triad of personality: narcissism, machiavellianism, and psychopathy. J Res Pers2002; 36: 556–563.
85.
FurnhamARichardsSCPaulhusDL. The dark triad of personality: a 10 year review. Soc Personal Psychol Compass2013; 7: 199–216.
86.
LyonsM. The dark triad of personality: Narcissism, machiavellianism, and psychopathy in everyday life. Oxford, UK: Academic Press, 2019.
87.
Gocet-TekınESatıcıSA. Big five and subjective happiness. Educ Sci Psychol2015; 35: 10–15.
88.
AnglimJHorwoodSSmillieLD, et al.Predicting psychological and subjective well-being from personality: a meta-analysis. Psychol Bull2020; 146: 279–309.
89.
ShihSIChiNWWuCC, et al.When dark meets blue: the relations between dark triad personality and depression symptoms. Curr Psychol2021; 40: 6110–6117.
90.
Bonfá-AraujoBSimõesNCZuchettoSR, et al.The unidimensionality of evil: a rating scale analysis of the short dark triad. Pers Individ Dif2021; 168: 110376.
91.
LiuPXiaoCHeJ, et al.Experienced workplace incivility, anger, guilt, and family satisfaction: the double-edged effect of narcissism. Pers Individ Dif2020; 154: 109642.
92.
BereczkeiTCziborA. Personality and situational factors differently influence high mach and low mach persons’ decisions in a social dilemma game. Pers Individ Dif2014; 64: 168–173.
93.
JonesDN. Machiavellianism. In: Encyclopedia of personality and individual differences. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2020, pp.2710–2718.
94.
AliFAmorimISChamorro-PremuzicT. Empathy deficits and trait emotional intelligence in psychopathy and machiavellianism. Pers Individ Dif2009; 47: 758–762.
95.
SzijjartoLBereczkeiT. The Machiavellians’ “cool syndrome”: they experience intensive feelings but have difficulties in expressing their emotions. Curr Psychol2015; 34: 363–375.
96.
LeBretonJMShiverdeckerLKGrimaldiEM. The dark triad and workplace behavior. Annual Rev Organiz Psychol Organiz Behav2018; 5: 387–414.
97.
ZettlerIFriedrichNHilbigBE. Dissecting work commitment: the role of Machiavellianism. Career Development International2011; 16: 20–35.
