An 18-year cohort study suggests that people with persistent anxiety or depression may still mature emotionally over time, but elevated neuroticism can persist into middle age, indicating a need for additional support. The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports, according to a Jun. 15 report.
The study examined personality development from early to middle adulthood among individuals with and without common mental disorders (CMDs). Researchers analyzed data from the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study, following 1,943 participants from adolescence through ages 24 to 42. They classified CMD and substance use patterns into four groups: not present, adolescent-only, adulthood-only, and present during both adolescence and adulthood.
Personality traits were assessed using the NEO Five Factor Inventory at two time points. The researchers found that conscientiousness and agreeableness increased while extraversion, openness, and neuroticism decreased over time in the general population. However, individuals with persistent CMDs showed higher baseline neuroticism scores that remained elevated compared to those without such disorders even in middle age. These participants became more agreeable (standardized mean difference of 0.4) and experienced a significant decrease in neuroticism (standardized mean difference of -0.3), but their levels of emotional instability remained above average.
Substance use problems were also tracked using standardized tools; these issues were relatively more common than CMDs across both adolescence and adulthood within the sample group. Patterns of personality change associated with substance use history were generally modest; for example, decreases in openness were most notable among those whose substance use was limited to adolescence.
The authors highlighted several limitations: personality was measured only twice during the follow-up period; all traits relied on self-reporting; missing data rates for CMDs and substance-use classifications were higher; there was overlap between measures of neuroticism and symptoms of anxiety or depression; regression to the mean could have influenced observed declines in neuroticism among those starting at higher levels.
Researchers concluded that understanding individual timelines for personality maturation could inform targeted public health interventions. They said clinicians might consider adapting treatment strategies based on patients’ emotional profiles as part of holistic care.
