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Previous research in psychiatry has focused on how negative personality traits and impaired well-being form risk factors for depression. This study presents the first longitudinal test of whether the absence of positive well-being forms an additional unique risk factor for depression.

A large cohort of 5566 people completed a survey at two time points, aged 51–56 at Time 1 and 63–67 at Time 2. Positive psychological well-being included measures self-acceptance, autonomy, purpose in life, positive relationships with others, environmental mastery, and personal growth. Personality was measured as extraversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience. Depression was measured with the CES-D scale.

People with low positive well-being were 7.16 times more likely to be depressed 10-years later. After controlling for personality, negative …