Personality Stability and Change: A Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies

Abstract

Past research syntheses provided evidence that personality traits are both stable and changeable throughout the lifespan. However, early meta-analytic estimates were constrained by a relatively small universe of longitudinal studies, many of which tracked personality traits in small samples over moderate time periods using measures that were only loosely related to contemporary trait models such as the Big Five. Since then, hundreds of new studies have emerged allowing for more precise estimates of personality trait stability and change across the lifespan. Here, we updated and extended previous research syntheses on personality trait development by synthesizing novel longitudinal data on rank-order stability (total k = 189, total N = 178,503) and mean-level change (total k = 276, N = 242,542) from studies published after January 1st 2005. Consistent with earlier meta-analytic findings, the rank-order stability of personality traits increased significantly throughout early life before reaching a plateau in young adulthood. These increases in stability coincide with mean-level changes in the direction of greater maturity. In contrast to previous findings, we found little evidence for increasing rank-order stabilities after age 25. Moreover, cumulative mean-level trait changes across the lifespan were slightly smaller than previously estimated. Emotional stability, however, increased consistently and more substantially across the lifespan than previously found. Moderator analyses indicated that narrow facet-level and maladaptive trait measures were less stable than broader domain and adaptive trait measures. Overall, the present findings draw a more precise picture of the lifespan development of personality traits and highlight important gaps in the personality development literature.

Personality Change Across Four Years in World Trade Center Responders

“…Personality was previously considered to be stable; however, personality is now seen as continuing to develop and change from childhood, to adolescence, and into old age . Meta-analysis found agreeableness and emotional stability traits increase in older age, conscientiousness increases up to age 80; extraversion and openness traits decrease through adulthood to old age (Bleidorn et al, 2022). This is consistent with past findings including general increases in self-confidence, warmth, self-control, and emotional stability at the meanlevel (Roberts & Mroczek, 2008).…”

“…Relevant findings of change in this age group are seen through declines in extraversion, openness, neuroticism, and declines in the mid-50s in agreeableness and conscientiousness (Bleidorn et al, 2022;Costa et al, 2019;Oltmanns et al, 2020;Roberts et al, 2006;Terracciano et al, 2005). The nature of WTC trauma allows for rigorous research, as exposure happened at the same time and its effects can be referenced to this common even.…”

“…For example, personality facets within neuroticism such as depressiveness, anxiousness, and anger proneness can have different relationships with important health outcomes (Oltmanns et al, in press). Specific facets within higher-order domains vary across measures, making comparison across studies difficult (Costa et al, 2019); however, facetlevel and maladaptive trait changes are more varied across studies (Bleidorn et al, 2022).…”

Selection and socialization effects of studying abroad

“…We would have expected, based on the maturity principle of personality development that the general trend would be in the direction of adaptivity. One possible explanation is that students undergo short‐term increases and decreases depending on the particular time of the academic year, that might be overlayed upon longer‐term linear trajectories in the direction of greater maturity as has been suggested by longitudinal research in previous studies (Bleidorn et al., 2021). We did not have statistical power or sampling frequencies required to examine these kinds of non‐linear patterns in this study.…”

The DSM should replace maladaptive traits with the five-factor model: Comment on Clark and Watson (2022).

“…They found that normal-range traits showed less mean-level change and were more rank-order stable than either self-reported maladaptive traits or PD symptom counts assessed by diagnostic interview. Bleidorn et al (2022) recently conducted a meta-analysis of longitudinal personality studies in nonclinical samples. Consistent with results from clinical samples, maladaptive traits were less stable than normal-range traits.…”