An examination of content overlap and disorder-specific predictions in the associations of neuroticism with anxiety and depression

Abstract

This study examines whether content overlap artificially inflates estimates of the associations of emotional disorders with neuroticism and whether disorder-specificity of prediction exists. We demonstrated a statistical approach for testing the validity of hypothesized facets of neuroticism. In a sample of 627 adolescents, we indentified six facets of neuroticism, one intermediate facet, and a general neuroticism factor (GNF). Only the GNF and the depression facet were significantly associated with depressive symptomatology. The GNF and all facets significantly predicted anxiety symptomatology. This study offers a new statistical approach for addressing content overlap, testing for disorder specific prediction and identifying facets of a broad personality trait, while indicating that content overlap does not largely explain the associations of neuroticism with psychopathology.

Time-course of attention to negative stimuli: Negative affectivity, anxiety, or dysphoria?

“…Participants rate items on a five-point scale (1 ϭ "Very Inaccurate", 5 ϭ "Very Accurate"). A recent structural equation modeling analysis of this scale supported a hierarchical model (Uliaszek, Hauner, Zinbarg et al, 2009) similar to that proposed by Goldberg (1999) and Costa and McCrae (1992) for the NEO-PI-R N scale, and found improved fit indices with alterations to the original IPIP scale. Following their recommendations, we calculated scores for the subscales pertinent to our specific hypotheses.…”

An Examination of the Higher-Order Structure of Psychopathology and Its Relationship to Personality

“…As expected, the higher-order internalizing factor was associated with all facets of neuroticism, supporting previous research linking neuroticism to the internalizing disorders (e.g., Griffith et al, 2010;Krueger et al, 2001;Khan, Jacobson, Gardner, Prescott, & Kendler, 2005;Mineka, Watson, & Clark, 1998). Some of these facets appear to represent psychiatric symptoms (depression, anxiety) and may largely overlap with those symptoms (Uliaszek et al, 2009). Previous research examining the relationship between extraversion and an internalizing factor have been mixed, with some studies finding a negative relationship between the two (in females only; Krueger et al, 2001), but others not finding support for a relationship (Khan et al, 2005).…”

The role of glucocorticoid receptor phosphorylation in the model of negative affective states

“…Moreover, item overlap between neuroticism, anxiety and depression also contributes to the strong effect of personality dimensions on DASS. On the other hand, neuroticism was demonstrated to be relatively stable in time, and item overlap with depression and anxiety measures does not largely explain the association (Uliaszek et al 2009). Although this can justify the use of neuroticism as an important predictor of negative emotionality, caution in interpreting the effect sizes is necessary, especially with self-report instruments, as in present study.…”