Find out more about how to interpret your personality and well-being scores from undertaking Potential Advantage surveys and what they say about you!

The information below will give you general information about each of the scores you received during the Potential Advantage tests.

While this information is general, if you participate in more than one of our surveys, you will be offered a summary report at the end of each term, allowing you to track how your personality and well-being have changed over time!

Life Satisfaction

Life satisfaction is an individual's subjective assessment of how their life is going. Life satisfaction scores range from 5 to 35, with low scores indicating low life satisfaction and high scores indicating high life satisfaction. Average life satisfaction varies slightly by age, gender, marital status, income, and a variety of other demographics. Scores between 5 to 9 indicate that you are very dissatisfied with your life; scores around 20 indicate that you are moderately satisfied with your life; and scores above 30 indicate that you are extremely satisfied with your life. If you received a low score on this test or your life satisfaction score has gone down since the last time you participated, don't worry! Remember that wellbeing is an ongoing and lifelong journey, not a destination. If your score has dropped significantly (8 points or more) and you would like to speak to someone about this change, scroll to the bottom of this page to access the contact information for our Research & Well-being Facilitator, or contact information for Counselling or Well-being Services.

Psychological/Eudaimonic Well-being

Psychological wellbeing measures an individual's perceived success in different areas of wellbeing including self-esteem, optimism, purpose and relationships. Psychological wellbeing ranges from 7 to 56, with low scores indicating a low perception of psychological wellbeing and high scores indicating a high perception of psychological wellbeing. Scores between 7 and 14 indicate a low perception of success and purpose, scores around 25 indicate a moderate perception of success and purpose, and scores above 48 indicate highly perceived success and purpose. If you received a low score on this test, or your psychological well-being score was lower than last time you participated, don't worry! Remember that wellbeing is an ongoing and lifelong journey, not a destination. If your score has dropped significantly (12 points or more) and you would like to speak to someone about this change, scroll to the bottom of this page to access the contact information for our Research & Well-being Facilitator, or contact information for Counselling or Well-being Services.

Mental Health

To observe mental health in this survey we used the General Health Questionnaire which measures symptoms of psychological distress. The scale ranges from 0 to 12, with low scores indicating low distress and high scores indicating high distress. Scores above 4 indicate moderate psychological distress. Please note that this test is not a clinical diagnosis of poor mental health. High scores on the General Health Questionnaire may indicate that you are currently under an unusual amount of stress, or may indicate that you are struggling to cope with your current circumstances. If your score is above 4, or is much higher than the last time you took one of our surveys, don't worry! Changes such as the ones described may just be a reflection of new stressors in your PhD journey, or recent changes in lifestyle. If you would like to speak to someone about your score or this change, scroll to the bottom of this page to access the contact information for our Research & Well-being Facilitator, or contact information for Counselling or Well-being Services.

Openness to Experience

Openness to experience describes how open an individual is to novelty (new experiences). Openness to experience scores range from 10 to 50. Scores indicating low openness to experience are between 10 and 24, scores indicating moderate openness to experience are between 25 and 35, and scores indicating high openness to experience are between 36 and 50.
Individuals who score highly on openness to experience enjoy variety and trying new things. They may enjoy beauty, art, and nature. Their friends would perhaps describe them as curious, inquisitive and original. People high in openness to experience may hold somewhat unconventional points of view and are more likely to vote for liberal political candidates. They are imaginative, artistic, and have a wide array of interests.
Individuals who score low on openness to experience prefer routine to novelty. They tend to be more grounded than those high in openness, and their friend would likely describe them as practical. People low in openness to experience like tradition, and are more likely to vote for conservative candidates in political elections. They dislike change and may have a low tolerance for views which are radically different from their own.

Conscientiousness

Conscientiousness is defined by how organised and goal-driven an individual may be. Conscientiousness scores range from 10-50. Scores indicating low conscientiousness are between 10 and 24, scores indicating moderate conscientiousness are between 25 and 35, and scores indicating high conscientiousness are between 36 and 50.
Individuals who are high on conscientiousness are highly organised, dependable, driven, and have a high level of self-discipline. Their friends may describe them as responsible. They are likely to thrive on routines and schedules, like making lists, and need their lives to be well-organised. Individuals who score high on conscientiousness tend to be go-getters and strive for excellence, as a result, they are likely well-accomplished. They need to think through every angle before making a decision, tend to be cautious, and have a high level of attention to detail.
Individuals who are low on conscientiousness are impulsive, spontaneous, and may be prone to procrastination. They may feel confined by rules and tend to be disorganised. They likely have no trouble starting projects, but often leave them half-finished. Individuals low on conscientiousness often struggle with being places on time. Their friends may describe them as “scatterbrained”, but lots of fun on a night out.

Extraversion

Extraversion is defined by how energetic, enthusiastic and sociable an individual may be. Extraversion scores range from 10-50. Scores indicating low extraversion are between 10 and 24, scores indicating moderate extraversion are between 25 and 35, and scores indicating high extraversion are between 36 and 50.
Individuals who are high on extraversion are often described as "the life of the party". They are outgoing, friendly, easy to get on with, and talkative. Individuals high on extraversion tend to be popular, have a high level of energy, and tend to be optimistic. They enjoy being around other people and being the centre of attention. Their outgoing nature and willingness to be assertive means they often end up as the leader in social situations and group projects.
Individuals who are low on extraversion tend to be a bit more reserved. They have a small, tight-knit, circle of close friends, and prefer not to be the centre of attention. It takes a bit of time for individuals who are low on extraversion to open up to new people, and they prefer activities that are low-key (i.e., movie night instead of going to a big party). Individuals low on extraversion tend to be introspective, self-aware, and private.

Agreeableness

Agreeableness is defined by how modest, altruistic and honest an individual may be. Agreeableness scores range from 10-50. Scores indicating low agreeableness are between 10 and 24, scores indicating moderate agreeableness are between 25 and 35, and scores indicating high agreeableness are between 36 and 50.
Individuals who are high on agreeableness tend to be loyal and trustworthy. They enjoy helping others, are sincere, and prefer to avoid confrontations. Individuals high on agreeableness are highly sensitive to the emotions of others. They are humble and tend to assume that others have good intentions. Their friends may describe them as compassionate, supportive, or nurturing. Individuals high on agreeableness are co-operative, but may sometimes compromise their own values and ideas to avoid confrontation.
Individuals who are low in agreeableness tend to be more practical than altruistic. They can be critical of others and are not concerned with what others think of them. These individuals can be sceptical and may look for ulterior motives in the actions of others. Individuals who are low on agreeableness may be more guarded when expressing their emotions and are reluctant to involve themselves in their friends' troubles. In a disagreement, they have no issue voicing their opinion, and would rather fight it out than compromise their values or ideas. Their friends may describe them as “hardheaded”, logical or rational.

Neuroticism

Neuroticism is defined by how sensitive, emotional and prone to worry an individual may be. Neuroticism scores range from 10-50. Scores indicating low neuroticism are between 10 and 24, scores indicating moderate neuroticism are between 25 and 35, and scores indicating high neuroticism are between 36 and 50.
Individuals who are high on neuroticism tend to be sensitive, apprehensive and prone to worrying. They may be impulsive, pessimistic, or struggle to cope with stress. Individuals who are high in neuroticism tend to feel emotions intensely and get upset easily. They may be uncomfortable around other people and have their feelings hurt easily. They may struggle to resist distractions or temptations.
Individuals who are low on neuroticism tend to be cool under pressure. They are slow to anger, are not stressed by others' opinions of them, and tend to not sweat the small stuff. They are even-tempered and tend to have good control over their emotions.

If the above content has raised any questions or concerns, or you are worried about a change in your personality/well-being scores since the last time you participated, please see Support and Resources.