Identifying family personality profiles using latent profile analysis: Relations to happiness and health

This preliminary study determined whether there are distinct family personality profiles encompassing child-mother-father triads. Data were from the Fullerton Longitudinal Study. Latent profile analysis (LPA) using the Five Factor Model was conducted, resulting in a 3-profile solution characterizing families. Emerging profiles were labeled ordinary, resilient, and unhealthful families. The profiles were validated by their relation to children's comprehensive happiness and global health assessed two decades later when adults. The profiles were differentially and meaningfully associated with these distal outcomes. Children from resilient families had the highest relative level of happiness, followed by children from ordinary families and then children from unhealthful families. Children from resilient and ordinary families were both healthier than children from unhealthful families. This research extends LPA methodology to the study of collective family personality profiles.