scholarly journals Personality Trait Development Across the Transition to Retirement

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ted Schwaba ◽  
Wiebke Bleidorn
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Personality Trait ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Personality Development ◽  
Personality Change ◽  
Big Five Personality ◽  
Major Life Events ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Transition To Retirement

In this study, we examined trajectories of Big Five personality development in the five years before and after retirement. Our sample was composed of 690 retirees (ages 51-81) and a propensity-score matched comparison group of 532 non-retirees drawn from a nationally representative longitudinal study of the Netherlands. Participants contributed data across a maximum of six measurement waves over a period of seven years. In the month after retirement, participants experienced sudden increases in openness and agreeableness followed by gradual declines in these traits over the next five years. Emotional stability increased before and after retirement. The transition to retirement was not associated with changes in conscientiousness or extraversion. Further, we found significant individual differences in development across the transition to retirement for each personality trait but could not identify any moderators that accounted for these individual differences. These results contribute to our understanding of personality development in older adulthood as well as the temporal dynamics of personality change in response to major life events.

Personality and perceptions of major life events: Implications for personality development

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Rakhshani ◽  
Richard E. Lucas ◽  
Brent Donnellan ◽  
Ina Fassbender ◽  
Maike Luhmann
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Big Five ◽  
Personality Development ◽  
Personality Change ◽  
Big Five Personality ◽  
Major Life Events ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Student Sample ◽  
Related Personality

Research about the associations between major life events and personality trait development is mixed. Work that evaluates perceptions of life events and how those perceptions are themselves associated with personality traits may help clarify the existing literature. We used a large student sample (N = 1509) to conduct exploratory analyses examining the associations among big five personality traits, different types of life events, a dimensional taxonomy of event characteristics, and beliefs about event-related personality change. Results suggested that (1) associations between personality and event perceptions are often nuanced; and (2) event perceptions were more predictive of beliefs about event-related personality change than were the big five. These findings indicate that event perceptions are not merely proxies for personality traits. This study highlights the importance of subjective event perceptions in the study of major life events and personality development.

Personality Traits and Perceptions of Major Life Events

2021 ◽  
pp. 089020702110458
Author(s):  
Andrew Rakhshani ◽  
Richard E. Lucas ◽  
M. Brent Donnellan ◽  
Ina Fassbender ◽  
Maike Luhmann
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Big Five ◽  
Personality Change ◽  
Big Five Personality ◽  
Major Life Events ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Student Sample ◽  
Representative Samples ◽  
Related Personality

Research examining the associations between major life events and personality trait development is mixed. Work that evaluates perceptions of life events and how those perceptions are themselves associated with personality traits may help clarify the existing literature. We used a large student sample ( N = 1,509) and a demographically diverse sample from a Qualtrics panel ( N = 552) to conduct exploratory analyses examining the associations between the big five personality traits and perceptions of life events. Results suggested that (a) associations between personality and beliefs about event-related personality change differ between students and more representative samples, (b) associations between personality and event perceptions are often nuanced, and (c) event perceptions are not merely proxies for personality traits. These studies highlight the importance of subjective event perceptions in the study of major life events and personality.

Self–other agreement in personality development in romantic couples

2020 ◽  
pp. 089020702096901
Author(s):  
Madeline R Lenhausen ◽  
Manon A van Scheppingen ◽  
Wiebke Bleidorn
Keyword(s):  
Big Five ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Rank Order ◽  
Personality Development ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Personality Change ◽  
Big Five Personality ◽  
Romantic Couples ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Growth Curve Models

A large body of evidence indicates that personality traits show high rank-order stability and substantial mean-level changes across the lifespan. However, the majority of longitudinal research on personality development has relied on repeated assessments of self-reports, providing a narrow empirical base from which to draw conclusions and develop theory. Here, we (1) tested whether self- and informant-reports provided by couples show similar patterns of rank-order stability and mean-level change and (2) assessed self–other agreement in personality development. We charted the Big Five personality trajectories of 255 couples ( N = 510; M age = 27.01 years) who provided both self- and partner-reports at four assessments across 1.5 years. Results indicated similar rank-order stabilities in self- and partner-report data. Latent growth curve models indicated no significant differences between self- and partner-reported personality trajectories, with exceptions to extraversion and agreeableness. We further found strong cross-sectional agreement across all Big Five traits and assessment waves as well as moderate self–other agreement in personality change in emotional stability and agreeableness. These findings highlight the relevance of multi-method assessments in personality development, while providing information about personality stability and change. Discussion focuses on the theoretical implications and future directions for multi-method assessments in longitudinal personality research.

The co-development of perceived support and the Big Five in middle and older adulthood

2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick L. Hill ◽  
Sara J. Weston ◽  
Joshua J. Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Big Five ◽  
Personality Trait ◽  
Personality Development ◽  
Perceived Support ◽  
Big Five Personality ◽  
Older Adulthood ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Perception Of Support ◽  
Positive Social Support ◽  
Positive Support

The current study examined whether relationships also influence personality trait development during middle and older adulthood, focusing on the individual’s perception of support from the relationship partner. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study ( n = 20,422; mean age = 65.9 years), we examined the longitudinal relationships between Big Five personality trait levels and perceived support from children, family, friends, and spouses. Results found that participants who reported more positive social support and lower negative support also tended to score higher on conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and openness to experience, but lower on neuroticism. Moreover, changes in positive support across relationship partners coincided with trait changes over time, in the form of more positive support was associated with seemingly adaptive changes on the Big Five. Findings are discussed with respect to identifying social influences on personality development in adulthood.

scholarly journals The Study of Personality Architecture and Dynamics (SPeADy): A Longitudinal and Extended Twin Family Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 548-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Kandler ◽  
Angelika Penner ◽  
Julia Richter ◽  
Alexandra Zapko-Willmes
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Family Study ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Personality Development ◽  
Surface Characteristics ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Moral Foundations ◽  
Major Life Events ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Children Of Twins

AbstractThe Study of Personality Architecture and Dynamics (SPeADy) is a German research project that aims to investigate the sources of interindividual differences in intraindividual personality development. The main focus lies in the dynamic interplay between more stable core characteristics and more environmentally malleable surface characteristics, as well as between personality and life experiences over time. SPeADy includes a twin family study encompassing data from 1962 individuals (age: 14–94) of 682 families, including 570 complete twin pairs (plus 1 triplet set), 327 parents, 236 spouses and 145 children of twins. Data collection started in 2016 and data from the first wave are currently obtainable as open source. Available data comprise a broad range of personality variables, such as personality trait constructs, motives, interests, values, moral foundations, religiosity and self-related concepts. For the currently ongoing second wave of data collection, we added retrospective reports on major life events. Special features of this genetically informative study are the extended twin family data and its longitudinal design. Three assessment waves in 2 years’ intervals are planned until 2022. In this article, we briefly describe the design and contents of the SPeADy twin family study as well as some recent findings, future plans and open science issues.

scholarly journals Changes in life satisfaction when losing one's spouse: individual differences in anticipation, reaction, adaptation and longevity in the German Socio-economic Panel Study (SOEP)

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 899-934 ◽  
Author(s):  
FRANK J. INFURNA ◽  
MAJA WIEST ◽  
DENIS GERSTORF ◽  
NILAM RAM ◽  
JÜRGEN SCHUPP ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Major Life Events ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Spousal Loss ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors

ABSTRACTLosing a spouse is among the most devastating events that may occur in people's lives. We use longitudinal data from 1,224 participants in the German Socio-economic Panel Study (SOEP) to examine (a) how life satisfaction changes with the experience of spousal loss; (b) whether socio-demographic factors and social and health resources moderate spousal loss-related changes in life satisfaction; and (c) whether extent of anticipation, reaction and adaptation to spousal loss are associated with mortality. Results reveal that life satisfaction shows anticipatory declines about two and a half years prior to (anticipation), steep declines in the months surrounding (reaction) and lower levels after spousal loss (adaptation). Older age was associated with steeper anticipatory declines, but less steep reactive declines. Additionally, younger age, better health, social participation and poorer partner health were associated with better adaptation. Higher pre-loss life satisfaction, less steep reactive declines and better adaptation were associated with longevity. The discussion focuses on the utility of examining the interrelatedness among anticipation, reaction and adaptation to further our understanding of change in life satisfaction in the context of major life events.

Self-Other Agreement in Personality Development in Romantic Couples

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeline Rowena Lenhausen ◽  
Manon A. van Scheppingen ◽  
Wiebke Bleidorn
Keyword(s):  
Big Five ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Rank Order ◽  
Personality Development ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Personality Change ◽  
Big Five Personality ◽  
Romantic Couples ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Growth Curve Models

A large body of evidence indicates that personality traits show high rank-order stability and substantial mean-level changes across the lifespan. However, the majority of longitudinal research on personality development has relied on repeated assessments of self-reports, providing a narrow empirical base from which to draw conclusions and develop theory. Here, we (1) tested whether self- and informant-reports provided by couples show similar patterns of rank-order stability and mean-level change and (2) assessed self-other agreement in personality development. We charted the Big Five personality trajectories of 255 couples (N = 510; M age = 27.01 years) who provided both self- and partner-reports at 4 assessments across 1.5 years. Results indicated similar rank-order stabilities in self- and partner-report data. Latent growth curve models indicated no significant differences between self- and partner-reported personality trajectories, with exceptions to extraversion and agreeableness. We further found strong cross-sectional agreement across all Big Five traits and assessment waves as well as moderate self-other agreement in personality change in emotional stability and agreeableness. These findings highlight the relevance of multi-method assessments in personality development, while providing information about personality stability and change. Discussion focuses on the theoretical implications and future directions for multi-method assessments in longitudinal personality research.

Studying Changes in Life Circumstances and Personality: It's about Time

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 256-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maike Luhmann ◽  
Ulrich Orth ◽  
Jule Specht ◽  
Christian Kandler ◽  
Richard E. Lucas
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Personality Development ◽  
Major Life Events ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Personality Psychology ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Life Circumstances

Most theories of personality development posit that changes in life circumstances (e.g. due to major life events) can lead to changes in personality, but few studies have examined the exact time course of these changes. In this article, we argue that time needs to be considered explicitly in theories and empirical studies on personality development. We discuss six notions on the role of time in personality development. First, people can differ before the event. Second, change can be non–linear and discontinuous. Third, change can be reversible. Fourth, change can occur before the event. Fifth, control groups are needed to disentangle age–related and event–related changes. Sixth, we need to move beyond examining single major life events and study the effects of non–normative events, non–events, multiple events, and minor events on personality. We conclude by summarizing the methodological and theoretical implications of these notions. Copyright © 2014 European Association of Personality Psychology

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